CN1553440A

CN1553440A - Optical pickup device

Info

Publication number: CN1553440A
Application number: CNA2004100491014A
Authority: CN
Inventors: ľ��һ; 荒井则一; ֮; 小嵨俊之; 桐木俊彦; ƽ; 大田耕平; ��һ; 齐藤真一郎
Original assignee: Konica Minolta Opto Inc
Current assignee: Konica Minolta Opto Inc
Priority date: 1999-01-22
Filing date: 2000-01-22
Publication date: 2004-12-08
Anticipated expiration: 2020-01-22
Also published as: DE60034969D1; KR20030036517A; EP1369855A3; WO2000043997A3; US20040257959A1; US20040095874A1; KR20030081292A; EP1369856A3; US7668065B2; EP1022731B1; EP1182653A1; EP1369856B1; DE60000114D1; KR20000053563A; US7889617B2; EP1381035A2; JP4775674B2; KR100441932B1; EP1381037A2; ATE363122T1

Abstract

An optical pickup apparatus for reproducing information from an optical information recording medium (20) or for recording information onto an optical information recording medium (20), is provided with a first light source (11) for emitting first light flux having a first wavelength; a second light source (13) for emitting second light flux having a second wavelength, the first wavelength being different from the second wavelength; a converging optical system having an optical axis and a diffractive portion, and a photo detector (30); wherein in case that the first light flux passes through the diffractive portion to generate at least one diffracted ray, an amount of n-th ordered diffracted ray of the first light flux is greater than that of any other ordered diffracted ray of the first light flux, and in case that the second light flux passes through the diffractive portion to generate at least one diffracted ray, an amount of n-th ordered diffracted ray of the second light flux is greater than that of any other ordered diffracted ray of the second light flux, where n stands for an integer other than zero.

Description

Optical pickup device

The present application is a divisional application of the chinese patent application with the invention title "optical head device, recording/reproducing device, optical element, and information recording/reproducing method", filed on 22.1.2000 by konica corporation, application No. 00104175.4.

Technical Field

The present invention relates to an optical head device.

Background

Recently, as a practical application of a short-wavelength red laser, a high-density optical information recording medium (also referred to as an optical disc) DVD having a size almost the same as that of a CD (compact disc) but having a larger capacity is put into production. In a DVD recording/reproducing apparatus, the numerical aperture NA on the disc side of an objective lens is 0.6-0.65 when a 650nm semiconductor laser is used. The DVD had a track pitch of 0.74 μm and a minimum signal pit length of 0.4 μm, and was in a densified state in which the size was lower than half of the CD having a track pitch of 1.6 μm and a minimum signal pit length of 0.83 μm. In addition, in the DVD, in order to reduce coma aberration generated when the optical disk is tilted with respect to the optical axis to a small value, the thickness of the transparent substrate is 0.6mm, which is half of the thickness of the transparent substrate of the CD.

In addition to the above-mentioned CD or DVD, optical discs of various standards such as CD-R, RW (compact disc in addendum type), VD (video disc), MD (mini disc), MO (photo-electromagnetic disc), etc., which have different light source wavelengths or transparent substrate thicknesses, are also coming into the market and spreading widely. In addition, the wavelength of the semiconductor laser is further shortened, and a short-wavelength blue laser having an emission wavelength of about 400nm is being put into practical use. When the wavelength is shortened, the capacity of the optical information recording medium is further improved even if the same numerical aperture as that of the DVD is used.

Further, in the same size as the above-mentioned conventional optical information recording medium CD, development of various optical information recording media such as CD-R capable of performing recording and reproduction, development of DVD in which recording density is improved by a difference in the thickness of the transparent substrate of the recording surface or a difference in the wavelength of laser light for recording and reproduction is advanced, and therefore, it is required to perform recording and reproduction on these optical information recording media by the same optical head. Thus, various optical heads have been proposed which have a plurality of laser light sources corresponding to the wavelengths used, and by which laser light is condensed onto a recording surface by the same objective lens through a necessary numerical aperture (for example, japanese patent laid-open nos. 8-55363 and 10-92010, etc.).

In the above description, in Japanese patent laid-open No. 9-54973, an optical system using a hologram optical element is disclosed in which transmitted light of 635nm (zero-order diffracted light) and negative first-order diffracted light of 785nm are applied; and an optical system using a holographic optical system in which a 635nm positive first-order diffracted light and a 785nm transmitted light (zeroth-order diffracted light) are applied. In addition, in japanese patent laid-open No. 10-283668, an optical system is disclosed in which a wavelength is 650nm, a hologram ring lens transmits at 100%, and light of 780nm is first order diffracted by the hologram ring lens.

However, in these hologram elements and hologram-type ring lenses, when the diffraction efficiency of zeroth-order light is 100% for one wavelength, the diffraction efficiency of plus first-order diffraction light or minus first-order diffraction light is necessarily limited for the other wavelength, so that the desired high diffraction efficiency cannot be obtained, causing a loss of the light amount, and the efficiency of using the light amount deteriorates, causing a problem. When a loss of light amount is caused, a high-power laser is required, especially at the time of information recording.

In addition, in the hologram element and the hologram type ring lens, when the diffraction efficiency for the zeroth order light of one side wavelength is 100%, and the diffraction efficiency for the plus first order diffracted light or minus first order diffracted light becomes large by preventing the zeroth order light from being transmitted as much as possible for the other side wavelength, the hologram has been made as deep as 3.8 to 5.18 μm. Therefore, when the function of the hologram optical element or the hologram type ring lens is integrated particularly in the objective lens, it becomes difficult to handle the metal mold and the molding, which has been a problem.

Further, the present inventors originally proposed an objective lens (japanese patent application laid-open No. 9-286954) in which an optical head is constructed which is constituted by a plurality of split surfaces split into concentric circles, each of the split surfaces being subjected to aberration correction to reach diffraction limits of a plurality of light sources having different wavelengths and/or a transparent substrate having different thicknesses of recording surfaces, and which is simple in structure. Such an objective lens has a function by which a necessary aperture corresponding to a wavelength of use and/or a thickness of a transparent substrate can be automatically obtained. However, when a laser/detector integrated unit in which a laser light source and a photodetector are integrated is used, there occurs a case where detection cannot be performed correctly due to the penetration of stray light into the photodetector, and thus a problem arises. This problem is particularly pronounced in laser/detector integrated units of the type that deflect and direct the light flux into a light detector by using holographic techniques. Further, when high-speed recording is performed in a recordable disk of a DVD system (DVD-RAM, DVD-R, DVD-RW, DVD + R, etc.) or a recordable disk of a CD system (CD-R, CD-RW, etc.), the use efficiency of the amount of light is poor compared to an optical system using a dedicated lens due to local beam dispersion, and therefore the power of the laser light source must be increased.

For DVDs and CDs, which use wavelengths and transparent substrate thicknesses different from each other, various interchangeable optical systems have been proposed in which one objective lens is used for recording and/or reproducing information without generating large spherical aberration or chromatic aberration. However, an optical system in practical use is configured such that the degree of divergence of the luminous flux of divergent light from a light source is weakened by a coupling objective lens, or the luminous flux of divergent light is made parallel luminous flux or weak divergent light, and the luminous flux is condensed onto an information recording surface via the objective lens and a transparent substrate of an optical information recording medium, and therefore two lenses of the coupling lens and the objective lens are required. Therefore, it is difficult to reduce the size of the optical head device to be small and thin, and there is also a problem of cost increase.

On the other hand, as described above, various optical discs other than CDs and DVDs are widely used, and therefore, an optical system which is interchangeable with these optical discs and has a simple structure and an optical head apparatus with such an optical system are necessary.

Disclosure of Invention

An object of the present invention is to provide an optical head device, a recording and reproducing device, an optical element, and a recording and reproducing method, wherein the optical head device can perform recording and/or reproducing for different types of optical information recording media using at least two different wavelengths of light.

Another object is to enable information recording and/or information reproduction to be performed by one optical head device for each different optical information recording medium without generating serious spherical aberration and chromatic aberration even in the case of using light having at least two different wavelengths and applying to different types of optical information recording media. Further, another object is to provide an optical head device having a simple structure. In particular, when different types of optical information recording media each having a transparent substrate with a different thickness are used, the spherical aberration problem becomes serious. Another object is to enable recording and/or reproducing of information on different types of optical information recording media with one optical head device without generating serious spherical aberration and chromatic aberration even in the foregoing case.

Further, it is also an object that light detection by a photodetector can be satisfactorily performed and S-shaped bend characteristics in detection can be satisfactorily made, without generating radiation of diffused light that adversely affects detection by the photodetector even in the case where an optical head device uses an integrated unit composed of a plurality of lasers and a plurality of detectors. Further, it is also an object of the present invention to provide an optical head device, a recording and reproducing device, an optical element, and a recording and reproducing method, which are less in light amount loss and excellent in light amount use efficiency.

In order to achieve the above object, the present invention provides an optical head device for reproducing information from an optical information recording medium or for recording information on an optical information recording medium, comprising: a first light source for emitting a first luminous flux having a first wavelength for recording and/or reproducing a second optical information recording medium having a transparent substrate with a thickness t 1; a second light source for emitting a second luminous flux having a second wavelength, which is longer than the first wavelength, for recording and/or reproducing the first optical information recording medium having the transparent substrate with the thickness t 1; a third light source for emitting a third luminous flux having a third wavelength, the third wavelength being greater than the second wavelength, for recording and/or reproducing a third optical information recording medium having a transparent substrate with a thickness t2, t2 being greater than t 1; an objective lens for converging a first light flux emitted from a first light source onto an information recording surface of a second optical information recording medium when information is recorded and/or reproduced on the second optical information recording medium, for converging a second light flux emitted from a second light source onto the information recording surface of the first optical information recording medium when information is recorded and/or reproduced on the first optical information recording medium, and for converging a third light flux emitted from a third light source onto the information recording surface of a third optical information recording medium when information is recorded and/or reproduced on the third optical information recording medium; and a light detector.

The above objects are also achieved by the following structures and methods.

(1) An optical head device for reproducing information from an optical information recording medium or for recording information onto an optical information recording medium, comprising:

a first light source for emitting a first luminous flux having a first wavelength;

a second light source for emitting a second light flux having a second wavelength, the first wavelength being different from the second wavelength;

a converging optical system having an optical axis and a diffractive part;

a photodetector;

wherein in the case where the first light flux generates at least one diffracted ray by the diffraction section, the amount of light of n-th order diffracted rays of the first light flux is larger than the amount of light of any other order diffracted rays of the first light flux, and in the case where the second light flux generates at least one diffracted ray by the diffraction section, the amount of n-th order diffracted rays of the second light flux is larger than the amount of any other order diffracted rays of the second light flux, where n represents a non-zero integer.

(2) An optical element of an optical head device for reproducing information from or recording information on an optical information recording medium, comprising:

an optical axis;

a diffractive part;

Characterized in that in the case where a first light flux generates at least one diffracted ray by the diffractive portion, the amount of n-order diffracted rays of the first light flux is larger than the amount of any other-order diffracted rays of the first light flux, and in the case where a second light flux whose wavelength is different from that of the first light flux generates at least one diffracted ray by the diffractive portion, the amount of n-order diffracted rays of the second light flux is larger than the amount of any other-order diffracted rays of the second light flux,

wherein the wavelength difference of the first light flux and the second light flux is 80-400nm and n represents a non-zero integer.

(3) An apparatus for reproducing information from or recording information on an optical information recording medium, comprising:

an optical pickup device includes

a converging optical system having an optical axis and a diffractive part;

a photodetector;

wherein in the case where the first light flux generates at least one diffracted ray by the diffractive portion, the amount of n-order diffracted rays of the first light flux is larger than the amount of any other-order diffracted rays of the first light flux, and in the case where the second light flux generates at least one diffracted ray by the diffractive portion, the amount of n-order diffracted rays of the second light flux is larger than the amount of any other-order diffracted rays of the second light flux, where n represents a non-zero integer.

(4) A method of reproducing or recording information from or on at least two kinds of optical information recording media by an optical head device including a first light source, a second light source, a photodetector, and a condensing optical system having an optical axis and a diffraction portion, the method comprising:

emitting a first light flux from a first light source or a second light flux from a second light source, wherein a wavelength of the second light flux is different from a wavelength of the first light flux;

passing the first or second light flux through the diffractive portion to generate at least one diffracted ray of the first light flux or at least one diffracted ray of the second light flux, wherein when an amount of n-order diffracted rays of the at least one diffracted ray of the first light flux is greater than an amount of any other-order diffracted rays of the first light flux, an amount of n-order diffracted rays of the at least one diffracted ray of the second light flux is greater than an amount of any other-order diffracted rays of the second light flux,

in order to record information on the first information recording surface or the second information recording surface or reproduce information from the first information recording surface or the second information recording surface by the optical head device, the condensing optical system condenses the n-order diffracted light of the first luminous flux to the first information recording surface of the first optical information recording medium or condenses the n-order diffracted light of the second luminous flux to the second information recording surface of the second optical information recording medium,

Detecting a first reflected light flux of the condensed n-order diffracted light from the first information recording surface or a second reflected light flux of the condensed n-order diffracted light from the second information recording surface by a photodetector,

wherein n represents a non-zero integer.

Drawings

Fig. 1 is an optical path view of a diffractive optical lens of example 1 of the present invention.

Fig. 2 is a view of the diffractive optical lens of example 1 of the present invention for spherical aberration at a wavelength λ of 635 nm.

Fig. 3 is a view of the diffractive optical lens of example 1 of the present invention showing spherical aberration within NA of 0.45 at a wavelength λ of 780 nm.

Fig. 4 is a view of the diffractive optical lens of inventive example 1 for spherical aberration up to NA of 0.60 at a wavelength λ of 780 nm.

Fig. 5 is a view of the diffractive optical lens of example 1 of the present invention against wavefront aberration at a wavelength λ of 635 nm.

Fig. 6 is a view of the diffractive optical lens of example 1 of the present invention for illustrating wavefront aberration generated at a wavelength λ of 780 nm.

Fig. 7 is a view of an optical path of the diffractive optical lens of example 2 of the present invention with respect to a wavelength λ of 405 nm.

Fig. 8 is a view of an optical path of the diffractive optical lens of example 2 of the present invention with respect to a wavelength λ of 635 nm.

Fig. 9 is a view of the generated spherical aberration at a wavelength λ of 405nm in the diffractive optical lens of example 2 of the present invention.

Fig. 10 is a view of the diffractive optical lens of example 2 of the present invention for spherical aberration at a wavelength λ of 635 nm.

Fig. 11 is a view of the diffractive optical lens of example 2 of the present invention with respect to wavefront aberration with a wavelength λ of 405 nm.

Fig. 12 is a view of the diffractive optical lens of example 2 of the present invention against wavefront aberration at a wavelength λ of 635 nm.

Fig. 13 is an optical path view of the diffractive optical lens of example 3 of the present invention with respect to a wavelength λ of 405 nm.

Fig. 14 is a view of an optical path of the diffractive optical lens of example 3 of the present invention with respect to a wavelength λ of 635 nm.

Fig. 15 is a view of the diffractive optical lens of example 3 of the present invention for spherical aberration with a wavelength λ of 405 nm.

Fig. 16 is a view of the diffractive optical lens of example 3 of the present invention for spherical aberration at a wavelength λ of 635 nm.

Fig. 17 is a view of the diffractive optical lens of example 3 of the present invention with respect to wavefront aberration with a wavelength λ of 405 nm.

Fig. 18 is a view of the diffractive optical lens of example 3 of the present invention with respect to wavefront aberration at a wavelength λ of 635 nm.

Fig. 19 is an optical path view of the diffractive optical lens of example 4 of the present invention.

Fig. 20 is a view of the diffractive optical lens of inventive example 4 for spherical aberration at wavelengths λ 635nm, 650nm and 780 nm.

Fig. 21 is an optical path view of the diffractive optical lens of example 5 of the present invention.

Fig. 22 is a view of the diffractive optical lens of inventive example 5 for spherical aberration at wavelengths λ 635nm, 650nm and 780 nm.

Fig. 23 is an optical path view of the diffractive optical lens of example 6 of the present invention for a wavelength λ of 650 nm.

Fig. 24 is a view of the spherical aberration at a wavelength λ of 780nm (NA of 0.5) of the diffractive optical lens of example 6 of the present invention.

Fig. 25 is a view of the diffractive optical lens of example 6 of the present invention for spherical aberration up to a numerical aperture of 0.60 at a wavelength λ of 650 ± 10 nm.

Fig. 26 is a view of the diffractive optical lens of example 6 of the present invention for spherical aberration up to a numerical aperture of 0.50 at a wavelength λ of 780 ± 10 nm.

Fig. 27 is a view of the diffractive optical lens of inventive example 6 for spherical aberration up to a numerical aperture of 0.60 at a wavelength λ of 780 nm.

Fig. 28 is a view of the diffractive optical lens of example 6 of the present invention against wavefront aberration rms at a wavelength λ of 650 nm.

Fig. 29 is a view of the diffractive optical lens of example 6 of the present invention for wavefront aberration rms at a wavelength λ of 7800 nm.

Fig. 30 is a view of an optical path of the diffractive optical lens of example 7 of the present invention for a wavelength λ of 650 nm.

Fig. 31 is an optical path view of a diffractive optical lens of example 7 of the present invention for a wavelength λ 780nm (NA 0.5).

Fig. 32 is a view of spherical aberration up to a numerical aperture of 0.60 for a wavelength λ of 650 ± 10nm of the diffractive optical lens of example 7 of the present invention.

Fig. 33 is a view of spherical aberration up to a numerical aperture of 0.50 for a wavelength λ 780 ± 10nm of the diffractive optical lens of example 7 of the present invention.

Fig. 34 is a view of spherical aberration up to a numerical aperture of 0.60 for a wavelength λ 780nm of the diffractive optical lens of example 7 of the present invention.

Fig. 35 is a view of a diffractive optical lens of example 7 of the present invention for wavefront aberration rms at a wavelength λ of 650 nm.

Fig. 36 is a view of a diffractive optical lens of example 7 of the present invention for wavefront aberration rms at a wavelength λ of 780 nm.

Fig. 37 is a view of an optical path of a diffractive optical lens of inventive example 8 for a wavelength λ of 650 nm.

Fig. 38 is an optical path view of a diffractive optical lens of invention example 8 for a wavelength λ 780nm (NA 0.5).

Fig. 39 is a view of spherical aberration up to a numerical aperture of 0.60 for a wavelength λ of 650 ± 10nm of the diffractive optical lens of example 8 of the present invention.

Fig. 40 is a view of spherical aberration up to a numerical aperture of 0.50 for a wavelength λ 780 ± 10nm of the diffractive optical lens of example 8 of the present invention.

Fig. 41 is a view of spherical aberration up to a numerical aperture of 0.60 for a wavelength λ 780nm of the diffractive optical lens of invention example 8.

Fig. 42 is a view of a diffractive optical lens of example 8 of the present invention for wavefront aberration rms at a wavelength λ of 650 nm.

Fig. 43 is a view of a diffractive optical lens of example 8 of the present invention for wavefront aberration rms at a wavelength λ of 780 nm.

Fig. 44 is a graph showing the relationship between the number of diffraction ring zones and the height from the optical axis of the diffractive optical lens in example 6 of the present invention.

Fig. 45 is a graph showing the relationship between the number of diffraction ring zones and the height from the optical axis of the diffractive optical lens in example 7 of the present invention.

Fig. 46 is a graph showing the relationship between the number of diffraction ring zones and the height from the optical axis of the diffractive optical lens in example 8 of the present invention.

Fig. 47 is a view typically showing a relationship between the diffraction lens power and the lens shape of the diffractive optical lens according to the example of the present invention.

Fig. 48 is an optical path diagram showing the structure of an optical head device according to a second embodiment of the present invention.

Fig. 49 is an optical path diagram showing a structure of an optical head device according to a third embodiment of the present invention.

Fig. 50 is a view of an optical path of an objective lens of example 9 of the present invention for a wavelength λ of 650 nm.

Fig. 51 is an optical path view of an objective lens of example 9 of the present invention for a wavelength λ 780 nm.

Fig. 52 is a view of spherical aberration at a wavelength of 650nm with respect to the objective lens of example 9 of the present invention.

Fig. 53 is a view of spherical aberration up to NA of 0.45 for a wavelength λ of 780nm of the objective lens of inventive example 9.

Fig. 54 is a view of spherical aberration up to NA of 0.60 for a wavelength λ of 780nm of the objective lens of inventive example 9.

Fig. 55 is a view of wavefront aberration for a wavelength λ of 650nm of the objective lens of example 9 of the present invention.

Fig. 56 is a view of wavefront aberration for a wavelength λ 780nm of the objective lens of example 9 of the present invention.

Fig. 57 is a view of an optical path of an objective lens of inventive example 10 for a wavelength λ of 650 nm.

Fig. 58 is a view of an optical path of an objective lens of example 10 of the present invention for a wavelength λ of 400 nm.

Fig. 59 is a view of an optical path of an objective lens of example 10 of the present invention for a wavelength λ 780 nm.

Fig. 60 is a view of the spherical aberration of the objective lens of example 10 of the present invention for a wavelength λ of 650 nm.

Fig. 61 is a view of spherical aberration of an objective lens of example 10 of the present invention for a wavelength λ of 400 nm.

Fig. 62 is a spherical aberration diagram of the objective lens of example 10 of the present invention for a wavelength λ 780 up to NA 0.45.

Fig. 63 is a spherical aberration diagram of the objective lens of example 10 of the present invention for a wavelength λ 780 up to NA 0.65.

Fig. 64 is a view of wavefront aberration for a wavelength λ of 650nm of the objective lens of example 10 of the present invention.

Fig. 65 is a view of wavefront aberration for an objective lens of example 10 of the present invention for a wavelength λ of 400 nm.

Fig. 66 is a view of wavefront aberration for a wavelength λ 780nm of the objective lens of example 10 of the present invention.

Fig. 67 is a view showing the structure of an optical head device according to embodiment 4 of the present invention.

Fig. 68 is a view of an objective lens of example 11 of the present invention for an optical path with a wavelength λ of 650 nm.

Fig. 69 is an optical path view of an objective lens of example 11 of the present invention for a wavelength λ of 400 nm.

Fig. 70 is an optical path view of an objective lens of example 11 of the present invention for a wavelength λ 780 nm.

Fig. 71 is a view of spherical aberration of an objective lens of example 11 of the present invention with respect to a wavelength λ of 650 nm.

Fig. 72 is a view of spherical aberration of an objective lens of example 11 of the present invention with respect to a wavelength λ of 400 nm.

Fig. 73 is a view of spherical aberration up to a numerical aperture of 0.45 for a wavelength λ 780nm of the objective lens of example 11 of the present invention.

Fig. 74 is a view of spherical aberration up to a numerical aperture of 0.65 for a wavelength λ 780nm of the objective lens of example 11 of the present invention.

Fig. 75 is a view of wavefront aberration of an objective lens of example 11 of the present invention for a wavelength λ of 650 nm.

Fig. 76 is a view of wavefront aberration for an objective lens of example 11 of the present invention for a wavelength λ of 400 nm.

Fig. 77 is a view of wavefront aberration for a wavelength λ 780nm of the objective lens of example 11 of the present invention.

Fig. 78 is a view of an objective lens of example 12 of the present invention for an optical path with a wavelength λ of 650 nm.

Fig. 79 is an optical path view of an objective lens of example 12 of the present invention for a wavelength λ of 400 nm.

Fig. 80 is an optical path view of an objective lens of example 12 of the present invention for a wavelength λ 780 nm.

Fig. 81 is a view of the spherical aberration of the objective lens of example 12 of the present invention with respect to a wavelength λ of 650 nm.

Fig. 82 is a view of spherical aberration of an objective lens of example 12 of the present invention with respect to a wavelength λ of 400 nm.

Fig. 83 is a view of spherical aberration up to a numerical aperture of 0.45 for a wavelength λ 780nm of the objective lens of example 12 of the present invention.

Fig. 84 is a view of spherical aberration up to a numerical aperture of 0.65 for a wavelength λ 780nm of the objective lens of example 12 of the present invention.

Fig. 85 is a view of wavefront aberration for a wavelength λ of 650nm of the objective lens of example 12 of the present invention.

Fig. 86 is a view of wavefront aberration for an objective lens of example 12 of the present invention for a wavelength λ of 400 nm.

Fig. 87 is a view of wavefront aberration for a wavelength λ 780nm of the objective lens of example 12 of the present invention.

Fig. 88 is a view of an objective lens of example 13 of the present invention for an optical path with a wavelength λ of 650 nm.

Fig. 89 is an optical path view of an objective lens of example 13 of the present invention for a wavelength λ of 400 nm.

Fig. 90 is an optical path view of an objective lens of example 13 of the present invention for a wavelength λ 780 nm.

Fig. 91 is a view of the spherical aberration of the objective lens of example 13 of the present invention for a wavelength λ of 650 nm.

Fig. 92 is a view of spherical aberration of an objective lens of example 13 of the present invention for a wavelength λ of 400 nm.

Fig. 93 is a spherical aberration diagram up to a numerical aperture of 0.45 for a wavelength λ 780nm of the objective lens of example 13 of the present invention.

Fig. 94 is a spherical aberration diagram up to a numerical aperture of 0.65 for a wavelength λ 780nm of the objective lens of example 12 of the present invention.

Fig. 95 is a view of wavefront aberration for a wavelength λ of 650nm of the objective lens of example 13 of the present invention.

Fig. 96 is a view of wavefront aberration for a wavelength λ of 400nm of the objective lens of example 13 of the present invention.

Fig. 97 is a view of wavefront aberration for a wavelength λ 780nm of the objective lens of example 13 of the present invention.

Fig. 98 is an optical path diagram of an objective lens of example 13 of the present invention for a wavelength λ of 400 nm.

Fig. 99 is a view of spherical aberration of the objective lens of example 13 of the present invention with respect to a wavelength λ of 400nm ± 10 nm.

Fig. 100 is a view of spherical aberration of the objective lens of example 13 of the present invention with respect to a wavelength λ of 650nm ± 10 nm.

Fig. 101 is a spherical aberration diagram of the objective lens of example 13 of the present invention with respect to a wavelength λ of 780nm ± 10 nm.

Fig. 102 is an optical path view showing a first configuration of an optical head device according to embodiment 8 of the present invention.

Fig. 103 is an optical path view showing a second configuration of an optical head device according to embodiment 8 of the present invention.

Fig. 104 is an optical path view showing a third configuration of an optical head device according to embodiment 8 of the present invention.

Fig. 105 is an optical path view showing a fourth configuration of an optical head device according to embodiment 8 of the present invention.

Fig. 106 is an optical path view showing a fifth configuration of an optical head device according to embodiment 8 of the present invention.

Fig. 107 is an optical path view showing a sixth configuration of an optical head device according to embodiment 8 of the present invention.

Fig. 108 is an optical path view showing a seventh configuration of an optical head device according to embodiment 8 of the present invention.

Fig. 109 is a typical view of the optical disc structure of the Super RENS system.

Fig. 110 is a graph showing the relationship between the imaging magnification m2 and the wavefront aberration of the objective lens of example 15 according to example 8 of the present invention.

Fig. 111 is a sectional view of example 15 according to example 8 of the present invention.

FIG. 112 is a spherical aberration view of example 15.

Fig. 113 is a diagram of the effect of the diffraction pattern.

Fig. 114 is a typical view showing the influence of chromatic aberration on spherical aberration of an objective lens according to embodiment 8 of the present invention.

Fig. 115 is a typical view showing the influence of the positive first-order diffraction on the spherical aberration of the objective lens according to embodiment 8 of the present invention.

Fig. 116 is a typical view showing the influence of negative first-order diffraction on the spherical aberration of the objective lens according to embodiment 8 of the present invention.

Fig. 117 is an optical path diagram showing the structure of an optical head device according to embodiment 7 of the present invention.

Fig. 118 is an optical path diagram of a diffractive optical lens (objective lens having a diffractive surface) as the objective lens of example 15 according to embodiment 7 of the present invention.

Fig. 119 is a view of spherical aberration of the diffractive optical lens in fig. 118 up to a numerical aperture of 0.60 for wavelengths (λ) of 640, 650, 660 nm.

FIG. 120 is an optical path diagram of the diffractive optical lens in the case where the thickness of the transparent substrate of the optical information medium in example 15 is larger than that in FIG. 118.

Fig. 121 is a spherical aberration view of the diffractive optical lens in fig. 120 up to a numerical aperture of 0.60 for wavelengths λ 770, 780, 790 nm.

Fig. 122 is an optical path diagram of a diffractive optical lens (objective lens having a diffractive surface) of the objective lens of example 16 according to embodiment 7 of the present invention.

Fig. 123 is a spherical aberration view of the diffractive optical lens in fig. 122 up to a numerical aperture of 0.60 for wavelengths (λ) of 640, 650, 660 nm.

FIG. 124 is an optical path diagram of the diffractive optical lens in the case where the thickness of the transparent substrate of the optical information medium in example 16 is larger than that in FIG. 122.

Fig. 125 is a spherical aberration view of the diffractive optical lens in fig. 124 up to a numerical aperture of 0.60 for wavelengths λ 770, 780, 790 nm.

Fig. 126 is an optical path diagram of a diffractive optical lens (objective lens having a diffractive surface) of the objective lens of example 17 according to embodiment 7 of the present invention.

Fig. 127 is a spherical aberration view of the diffractive optical lens in fig. 126 up to a numerical aperture of 0.60 for wavelengths (λ) of 640, 650, 660 nm.

FIG. 128 is an optical path diagram of the diffractive optical lens in the case where the thickness of the transparent substrate of the optical information medium in example 17 is larger than that in FIG. 126.

Fig. 129 is a view of spherical aberration of the diffractive optical lens in fig. 128 up to a numerical aperture of 0.60 for a wavelength (λ) of 770, 780, 790 nm.

Fig. 130 is an optical path diagram of a diffractive optical lens (objective lens having a diffractive surface) as an objective lens of example 18 according to embodiment 7 of the present invention.

Fig. 131 is a view of spherical aberration of the diffractive optical lens in fig. 130 up to a numerical aperture of 0.70 for a wavelength (λ) of 390, 400, 410 nm.

FIG. 132 is an optical path diagram of the diffractive optical lens in the case where the thickness of the transparent substrate of the optical information medium in example 18 is larger than that in FIG. 130.

Fig. 133 is a view of spherical aberration of the diffractive optical lens in fig. 132 up to a numerical aperture of 0.70 for wavelengths λ of 640, 650, 660 nm.

FIG. 134 is a cross-sectional view of a diffraction zone band.

Detailed Description

An optical head device for reproducing information from or recording information on an optical information recording medium has a first light source for emitting a first light flux having a first wavelength; a second light source for emitting a second light flux having a second wavelength, the first wavelength being different from the second wavelength; a converging optical system having an optical axis and a diffractive part, and a light detector. In addition, the diffraction part generates more n-order diffracted light than other order diffracted light in a first light flux passing through the diffraction part, and generates more n-order diffracted light than other order diffracted light in a second light flux also passing through the diffraction part, n representing a non-zero integer. The optical element of the present invention is an element having a diffractive portion capable of realizing the foregoing embodiments. An apparatus for reproducing information from an optical information recording medium or recording information on an optical information recording medium has the above-described optical head device.

Incidentally, the "amount of n-order diffracted light is larger than any other-order diffracted light" means that the diffraction efficiency for n-order diffracted light is higher than that for other-order diffracted light other than n-order diffracted light. In addition, n in the n-th order also includes a sign that when the positive first-order diffracted light is generated more than the other-order diffracted light in the first light flux that has passed through the diffraction section, it means that the positive first-order diffracted light is generated more than the other-order diffracted light, even in the second light flux that has passed through the diffraction section, it does not include the meaning that the negative first-order diffracted light is generated more than the other-order diffracted light in the second light flux that has passed through the diffraction section.

The optical head device of the present invention is a device in which one optical head device can record and/or reproduce different types of optical information recording media using at least two wavelengths different from each other. That is, the optical head device of the present invention is a device for recording/reproducing different information recording media such as a first optical information recording medium and a second optical information recording medium. The first light source of the optical head device emits a first light flux to reproduce information from or record information on the first optical information recording medium, and the second light source of the optical head device emits a second light flux to reproduce information from or record information on the second optical information recording medium. Generally, an optical information recording medium has a transparent substrate on an information recording surface.

When the function of the present invention is realized in another way, the condensing optical system can reproduce or record information recorded in or on the first optical information recording medium by condensing "n-th order diffracted ray of the first luminous flux" generated at the diffraction portion by the first luminous flux reaching the diffraction portion onto the first information recording surface of the first optical information recording medium through the first transparent substrate, and the condensing optical system is capable of condensing "n-th order diffracted ray of the second luminous flux" generated at the diffraction portion by the second luminous flux reaching the diffraction portion onto the second information recording surface of the second optical information recording medium through the second transparent substrate to reproduce information recorded in the second optical information recording medium or record information on the second optical information recording medium, and the photodetector is capable of receiving the light flux reflected from the first information recording surface or the second information recording surface.

The following will show a preferred embodiment in which the condensing optical system is capable of condensing n-th order diffracted light in a first light flux on the image side of the objective lens onto a first information recording surface of a first optical information recording medium in a state where the wavefront aberration is not more than 0.07 λ rms within a prescribed numerical aperture range of the first optical information recording medium (in other words, in a case where the diffraction limit value is taken at the best image point (best focus) light flux within the prescribed numerical aperture range or less), the condensing optical system is capable of condensing the n-th order diffracted light of the second light flux on the second information recording surface of the second optical information recording medium in a state where the wavefront aberration in the prescribed numerical aperture range of the second optical information recording medium in the image side of the objective lens is not more than 0.07 λ rms (in other words, in a case where the light flux in the prescribed numerical aperture range takes a diffraction limit value or less at the best image point (best focus)).

In addition, it is preferable that the n-th order diffracted light is condensed onto the respective information recording surfaces in a state where the wavefront aberration is not more than 0.07 λ rms within a prescribed numerical aperture range on the image side of the objective lens, even in a case where there is a wavelength shift of about ± 10nm in the first light source or the second light source caused by temperature fluctuation and current fluctuation. It is particularly preferable that the n-order diffracted light is condensed in a state of wavefront aberration of 0.07 λ rms or less within a specified numerical aperture range on the image side of the objective lens even when the first light flux or the second light flux is a light having a wavelength of 600nm or less (e.g., 350-480nm) and a wavelength shift of about ± 10nm is generated.

Incidentally, when the n-order diffracted light is either the positive first-order diffracted light or the negative first-order diffracted light, the loss of the light amount is smaller than the case where the diffracted light of higher order than ± 1 order is used, which is preferable.

In addition, when the diffraction efficiency of the n-th order diffracted light of the first light flux in the diffraction part is represented by A%, and the diffraction efficiency of the other certain order diffracted light is represented by B% (preferably, the order of the maximum diffraction efficiency is in a value other than n), it is preferable to satisfy A-B ≧ 10, and when the diffraction efficiency of the n-th order diffracted light of the second light flux in the diffraction part is represented by A '% and the diffraction efficiency of the other certain order diffracted light is represented by B'%, it is preferable to satisfy A '-B' ≧ 10. A-B.gtoreq.30 and A '-B'. gtoreq.30 are more preferred, A-B.gtoreq.50 and A '-B'. gtoreq.50 are more preferred, and A-B.gtoreq.70 and A '-B'. gtoreq.70 are still more preferred.

When both the first luminous flux and the second luminous flux are used for recording information to the optical information recording medium, it is preferable that the diffraction efficiency of the n-th order diffracted light in the diffraction portion is a maximum at a wavelength between the wavelength of the first luminous flux and the wavelength of the second luminous flux.

When one of the first luminous flux and the second luminous flux is used for recording information to the optical information recording medium and the other luminous flux is used for reproduction only, it is preferable that the diffraction efficiency of the n-order diffracted light in the diffraction portion is a minimum at a wavelength between the wavelength of the first luminous flux and the wavelength of the second luminous flux. It is more preferable that the diffraction efficiency of the n-order diffracted light in the diffraction section is a maximum at the wavelength of the first light flux and the wavelength of the second light flux for information recording.

As the optical element provided with a diffractive portion, a lens provided with a refractive surface and a flat-type element on a converging optical system is given, but there is no particular limitation here.

When a lens having a refractive surface is used as the optical element provided with the diffractive portion, an objective lens, a collimator lens, and a coupling lens are given as examples of specific optical elements. On the refractive surface of each lens, a diffraction part is provided. Planar or lenticular optical elements, which are intended only to provide diffractive portions, may also be added to the converging optical system.

Incidentally, when the diffractive portion is provided on the refractive surface of the objective lens, it is preferable that the outer diameter of the objective lens (including the flange if there is a flange) is larger than the aperture diameter by 0.4mm to 2 mm.

The diffractive portion may be provided on the optical surface of the optical element on the light source side or on the image side (optical information recording medium side), or on both sides. In addition, the diffractive part may be provided on the concave surface and the convex surface.

When the diffractive part is provided on the objective lens, it is preferable because the number of parts is reduced and errors in assembling the optical head device at the time of manufacture are reduced. In that case, the objective lens is preferably of a single-element type, but it may also be of a dual-element type. Preferably a plastic lens, but glass lenses are also acceptable. The resin layer on which the diffraction part is formed may be provided on the surface of the glass lens. It is preferable that the objective lens on which the diffractive portion is provided on an outer periphery thereof with a flange portion having a surface extending in a direction perpendicular to the optical axis. This makes it possible to easily and accurately mount it on the optical head device, and makes it possible to obtain stable performance even when the ambient temperature fluctuates. It is further preferable that the refractive surface of the objective lens is an aspherical surface and the diffractive part is provided on the aspherical surface. The diffractive part can of course be provided on either side of the objective lens or on both sides thereof.

In addition, it is preferable that the optical element on which the diffractive portion is provided is made of a material having an Abbe number vd of not less than 50 and not more than 100. It may also be made of plastic or glass. Incidentally, in the case of a plastic lens, it is preferable that the refractive index of the material is in the range of 1.4 to 1.75, and 1.48 to 1.6 are more preferable, and 1.5 to 1.56 is most preferable.

When the diffraction section is provided on the lens (preferably on the plastic lens), the following conditional expression is preferably satisfied to obtain an optical head device and an optical element that are stable against temperature fluctuation.

-0.0002/℃＜Δn/ΔT＜-0.00005/℃

Wherein,

Δ T is temperature fluctuation

Δ n is the refractive index change of the lens.

The following conditional expression is preferably satisfied.

0.05nm/℃＜Δλ1/ΔT＜0.5nm/℃

Wherein,

Δ λ 1(nm) is the amount of change in the wavelength of the first light source with respect to the temperature fluctuation Δ T.

The diffraction section is preferably of a phase type from the viewpoint of the use efficiency of light, although it may be of an amplitude type. The preferred diffraction pattern of the diffractive part is configured to rotate symmetrically with respect to the optical axis. It is preferable that the diffraction section has a plurality of annular zones as viewed from the optical axis direction, and the plurality of annular zones are mostly formed on concentric circles whose centers are on or near the optical axis. A circular shape is preferred, but an oval shape is also possible. A stepped flame-type zone diffraction surface is particularly preferred. Or an annular diffraction surface formed with steps. The annular zone diffraction surface may be formed with a step as an annular zone that moves discontinuously in a direction in which the lens thickness increases as the lens position moves away from the optical axis. Incidentally, the diffractive portion is preferably a ring-shaped band, but may be a one-dimensional diffraction grating.

When the diffraction sections represent concentric circles in the form of annular bands, the pitch of the diffraction annular bands is defined by applying a phase difference function or an optical path difference function. In this case, it is preferable that at least one term other than the square term in the phase difference function expressed in a power series representing the positions of the plurality of annular zones has a non-zero coefficient. With this structure, it is possible to correct spherical aberration of chromatic aberration caused by lights each having a different wavelength.

The correction of the axial chromatic aberration can be performed when the square term has a non-zero coefficient in the phase difference function expressed in a power series representing the positions of the plurality of annular zones of the diffraction section, which is preferable. However, it is important that when the pitch of the diffractive annular zones is not made small, it is also possible that the square term is not included in the phase difference function expressed as a power series of the positions of the plurality of annular zones representing the diffractive portion.

Incidentally, it is preferable that the order of the diffraction annular band of the diffraction portion is in the range of 2 to 45. More preferably not more than 40. And more preferably no greater than 15. Incidentally, the count of the number of steps is obtained by counting the number of step portions of the endless belt.

In addition, it is preferable that the depth of the step portion of the diffraction annular zone of the diffraction portion in the optical axis direction is not more than 2 μm. Due to this structure, the optical element can be simply manufactured, and the n-order diffracted light can be easily made into the positive first-order diffracted light or the negative first-order diffracted light.

In addition, when the diffractive portion is provided on the surface of the light source side optical element, it is preferable that the depth of the step portion becomes larger as the step portion becomes farther from the optical axis.

As for the effect of the diffraction portion on the deflection of the light flux, in this specification, the case where the light flux is deflected in the optical axis direction is referred to as a positive effect, and on the other hand, the case where the light flux is deflected away from the optical axis direction is referred to as a negative effect.

With respect to the spacing on the annular diffractive surface, a spacing is also provided herein, wherein the spacing is provided inversely proportional to its height from the optical axis. It is also possible to provide a pitch having aspherical characteristics in which the pitch is provided in a manner not inversely proportional to the height from the optical axis.

Particularly when a pitch having aspherical properties is provided, i.e. when the provided pitch is not inversely proportional to the height from the optical axis, it is preferred that there is no inflection point in the function of the optical path difference, although there may also be an inflection point.

In addition, the diffraction effect added to the diffraction section is either positive or negative over the entire surface of the diffraction section. It is also possible to arrange that the plus or minus sign added to the diffractive effect in the diffractive part should be switched at least one order in a direction perpendicular to the optical axis and further away from the optical axis. For example, a type is given in which the sign changes from minus to plus in the direction away from the optical axis in the direction perpendicular to the optical axis, as shown in fig. 47 (c). In other words, it can be said that the plurality of annular zones engraved on the diffractive portion and on the diffractive annular zone close to the optical axis, the step portion is positioned away from the optical axis, and on the diffractive annular zone away from the optical axis, the step portion is positioned close to the optical axis. There is also given a type in which the sign is changed from plus sign to minus sign in the direction away from the optical axis in the direction perpendicular to the optical axis, as shown in fig. 47 (d). In other words, it can be said that a plurality of annular zones are engraved on the diffractive portion, and on the aforementioned diffractive annular zone close to the optical axis, the step portion is positioned close to the optical axis, and on the diffractive annular zone far from the optical axis, the step portion is positioned far from the optical axis.

Incidentally, the pitch (section distance) of the diffractive annular zone means a distance p between the annular zone step and the adjacent annular zone step in the direction perpendicular to the optical axis in fig. 134, and the step depth means a length d of the step in the optical direction in fig. 134.

Incidentally, when the pitch is small, the converging effect and the diverging effect on the above-mentioned portion become strong, and when the pitch is large, the converging effect and the diverging effect on the above-mentioned portion become weak.

In addition, the diffractive portion may also be provided on the entire surface portion through which the light flux passes in the optical element having the diffractive portion. In other words, it can also be said that all the light fluxes within the maximum numerical aperture on the image side of the objective lens can pass through the diffraction part. The diffractive portion may be simply provided on the entire portion of one optical surface of the optical element or a portion of not less than 70% (preferably not less than 80%, more preferably not less than 90%) of one optical surface of the optical element may be made the diffractive portion.

In addition, the diffractive portion may be provided only on a part of the surface of the optical element through which the light flux passes, with another region being a refractive surface or a transmissive surface in the optical element. When the diffraction section is provided only on a part of the surface through which the light flux passes, the diffraction section may be provided only on a part including the optical axis in the vicinity of the optical axis, or the diffraction section may be provided only in a ring shape without being provided in the vicinity of the optical axis. For example, the diffractive portion may be provided on 10% or more and 90% or less of the surface in the optical surface of the optical element. Or 10% or more and less than 50% of the surface is made a diffraction part.

Incidentally, when the diffraction part is provided only on a part of the surface of the optical element through which the light flux passes, NA1 > NAH1, NAH1 > NA2, NA2 ≧ NAL1 ≧ 0 in the case of NA1 > NA2 is preferable. NA2 > NAH2, NAH2 > NA1, NA 1. gtoreq. NAL 2. gtoreq.0 are preferred in the case of NA2 > NA 1. Incidentally, when the first light flux and the second light flux are used respectively, NA1 and NA2 are respectively specified numerical apertures of the object mirror image example. Each of NAH1 and NAH2 is a numerical aperture of the objective lens on the image side for each of the first light flux and the second light flux passing through the outermost side of the diffraction section. Each of NAL1 and NAL2 is a numerical aperture of the objective lens on the image side for each of the first light flux and the second light flux innermost by the diffraction section.

When the diffractive portion is provided only on a part of the surface of the optical element through which the light flux passes, in the case where NA1 > NA2, it is preferable that the light flux in the first light flux that passes through the diffractive portion at NA1 or less and the light that passes through the refractive surface other than the diffractive portion at NA1 or less be converged at almost the same position. In the case where NA2 > NA1, it is preferable that the light flux that passes through the diffractive portion at NA2 or less and the light that passes through the refractive surface other than the diffractive portion at NA2 or less in the second light flux are condensed at almost the same position.

There is an embodiment in which the diffractive part has a first diffractive pattern and a second diffractive pattern, the second diffractive pattern being at a greater distance from the optical axis than the first diffractive pattern. The diffractive part may be combined with a refractive surface having non-diffractive parts on the same face.

When two types of diffraction patterns are used, it may also be arranged such that, in a first light flux passing through the first diffraction pattern of the diffraction section, n-order diffracted light rays more than other-order diffracted light rays are generated and can be condensed on the first information recording surface, and, in a second light flux passing through the first diffraction pattern of the diffraction section, n-order diffracted light rays more than other-order diffracted light rays are also generated and can be condensed on the second information recording surface, in a first light flux passing through the second diffraction pattern of the diffraction section, n-order diffracted light rays more than other-order diffracted light rays are generated and can be condensed on the first information recording surface, and zero-order light representing transmitted light is also generated more than other-order diffracted light rays in a second light flux passing through the second diffraction pattern of the diffraction section. The n-th order in this case is preferably a first order.

In addition, in another embodiment, more n-order diffracted light rays than other-order diffracted light rays are generated in the first light flux passing through the first diffraction pattern of the diffraction section and can be condensed on the first information recording surface, more n-order diffracted light rays than other-order diffracted light rays are also generated in the second light flux passing through the first diffraction pattern of the diffraction section and can be condensed on the second information recording surface, more zeroth-order diffracted light rays than other-order diffracted light rays are generated in the first light flux passing through the second diffraction pattern of the diffraction section and can be condensed on the first information recording surface, and more negative-order diffracted light rays than other-order diffracted light rays are also generated in the second light flux passing through the second diffraction pattern of the diffraction section. The n-th order in this case is preferably a positive first order and the negative order is preferably a negative first order.

In the case of an optical head device or an optical element used in a plurality of optical information recording media each having a transparent substrate with a different thickness, it is particularly preferable that the pitch of the annular zone of the diffraction portion satisfies the following conditional expression:

0.4＜＝|(Ph/Pf)-2|＜＝25

more preferably 0.8. ltoreq. l (Ph/Pf) -2. ltoreq.6, and most preferably 1.2. ltoreq. l (Ph/Pf) -2. ltoreq.2.

The pitch of the annular band of the diffraction part corresponding to the maximum numerical aperture of the objective lens on the image side is represented by Pf, and the pitch of the annular band of the diffraction part corresponding to the maximum numerical aperture 1/2 is represented by Ph. Incidentally, regarding the maximum numerical aperture, the largest one of the specified numerical apertures of some types of optical information recording media that perform information reading/recording in the optical head device is regarded as the maximum numerical aperture. Incidentally, the specified numerical aperture means a numerical aperture which enables reading/recording of information to/from an optical information recording medium with a light flux having a possible specified wavelength in the optical head device, but may be a numerical aperture set by a standard of a certain optical information recording medium. In addition, the "pitch of the annular zones of the diffraction part corresponding to the maximum numerical aperture of the objective lens on the image side" means the pitch of the annular zones located at the outermost part of the light flux passing through the diffraction part in the case of the maximum numerical aperture. "the pitch of the annular zones of the diffraction part corresponding to the maximum numerical aperture 1/2" means the pitch of the annular zones located at the outermost part of the light flux passing through the diffraction part in the case where the numerical aperture is half the maximum numerical aperture.

Incidentally, an optical head device is also acceptable in which, for one of two luminous fluxes from two light sources, respectively, no aberration is made within a specified numerical aperture, and for a portion other than the specified numerical aperture, the aberration is made to be a diffuse spot.

In other words, the following can be said. A first light flux of a first optical information recording medium within a specified numerical aperture of an objective lens on an image side in a case where the first light flux is used is condensed onto a first information recording surface of the first optical information recording medium in a state of 0.07 lambda rms or less, and a first light flux outside the specified numerical aperture passing through the objective lens on the image side in a case where the first light flux is used is set to be greater than 0.07 lambda rms on the first information recording surface, and a second light flux outside the specified numerical aperture passing through the objective lens on the image side in a case where the first light flux and the second light flux outside the aforementioned numerical aperture are used is condensed onto the second information recording surface in a state of 0.07 lambda rms or less. In this case, NA1 is smaller than NA2, and the light flux between NA1 and NA2 is dispersed at the time of recording and reproducing the first optical information recording medium.

Alternatively, the second light flux of the second optical information recording medium within the specified numerical aperture of the objective lens on the image side in the case of using the second light flux is converged on the second information recording surface of the second optical information recording medium in a state of 0.07 λ rms or less, and the second light flux outside the specified numerical aperture passing through the objective lens on the image side in the case of using the second light flux becomes greater than 0.07 λ rms on the second information recording surface, and the first light flux outside the aforementioned numerical aperture passing through the objective lens on the image side in the case of using the second light flux and the first light flux outside the aforementioned numerical aperture is converged on the first information recording surface in a state of 0.07 λ rms or less. In this case, NA1 is larger than NA2, and the light flux between NA2 and NA1 is dispersed at the time of recording and reproducing the second optical information recording medium.

These embodiments can be automatically created by the design of the diffractive part. For example, a diffractive portion may be provided on the entire surface of the optical element so as to generate the dispersed light at a prescribed numerical aperture or more by designing the diffractive portion, or a diffractive portion may be provided on a part of the surface of the optical element so as to make the other part a refractive surface so as to generate the dispersed light by the refractive surface and the diffractive surface.

In the above-described embodiment of generating the dispersed light, it is preferable that the aperture adjustment means for blocking or diffracting the first light flux outside the specified numerical aperture of the image side objective lens and transmitting the second light flux therethrough is not provided in the case of using the first light flux, and the aperture adjustment means for blocking or diffracting the second light flux outside the specified numerical aperture of the image side objective lens and transmitting the first light flux therethrough is not provided in the case of using the second light flux. That is, it is preferable to provide only a normal aperture without providing a dichroic filter or a hologram filter. If only the diffractive part is designed to satisfy the aforementioned function, it is sufficient to provide only a normal aperture, which is preferable because of its mechanism simplicity.

However, a filter such as a holographic filter may also be used to generate the dispersed light. Incidentally, when a filter such as a hologram filter is provided, a separate filter may be provided in the optical converging system, or a filter may be provided on the objective lens.

It is possible to provide diffuse light below or above the position where the minimum spot is obtained when the light flux at a specified numerical aperture is condensed. Preferably provided thereon.

When the diffused light as described above is generated, it is possible to continuously generate the diffused light or discontinuously generate the diffused light on the spherical aberration diagram.

In addition, there is another embodiment, which provides an optical head device that does not generate dispersed light. As explained below.

In other words, it is possible to express as follows. The first light flux of the first optical information recording medium within the specified numerical aperture of the objective lens on the image side in the case of using the first light flux is converged on the first information recording surface of the first optical information recording medium in a state of 0.07 λ rms or less, and the first light flux outside the specified numerical aperture passing through the objective lens on the image side in the case of using the first light flux is caused to be converged on the first information recording surface in a state of 0.07 λ rms or less, or is blocked and does not reach the first information recording surface. The second light flux within the specified numerical aperture having passed through the image side objective lens in the case of using the first light flux and the second light flux outside the specified numerical aperture having passed through are condensed onto the second information recording surface of the second optical information recording medium in a state of 0.07 lambda rms or less. In this case, NA1 is smaller than NA2, and the light flux between NA1 and NA2 is also converged or blocked at the time of recording and reproducing the first optical information recording medium.

Alternatively, the second light flux of the second optical information recording medium within the specified numerical aperture of the objective lens on the image side in the case where the second light flux is used is converged on the second information recording surface of the second optical information recording medium in a state of 0.07 λ rms or less, and the second light flux outside the specified numerical aperture passing through the objective lens on the image side in the case where the second light flux is used is caused to be converged on the second information recording surface in a state of 0.07 λ rms or less, or is blocked and does not reach the second information recording surface. The first luminous flux within the specified numerical aperture having passed through the image side objective lens in the case of using the second luminous flux, and the first luminous flux outside the specified numerical aperture having passed through the second luminous flux are condensed onto the first information recording surface of the first optical information recording medium in a state of 0.07 lambda rms or less. In this case, NA1 is larger than NA2, and the light flux between NA2 and NA1 is also converged or blocked at the time of recording and reproducing the second optical information recording medium.

These embodiments can be automatically created by the design of the diffractive part.

In this embodiment, the dispersed light is not generated, the light fluxes between NA1 and NA2 or between NA2 and NA1 are blocked, and preferably, aperture adjustment means that blocks the first light flux outside the specified numerical aperture of the image side objective lens and transmits the second light flux in the case of using the first light flux or aperture adjustment means that blocks the second light flux outside the specified numerical aperture of the image side objective lens and transmits the first light flux in the case of using the second light flux is provided. Alternatively, it is preferable to provide aperture adjustment means in which each luminous flux has its own prescribed numerical aperture.

That is, it is preferable that the light flux is blocked by a circular band filter such as a dichroic filter or a hologram filter representing the aperture adjusting means at a specified numerical aperture or more with respect to the first light flux or the second light flux. Incidentally, when a dichroic filter or a hologram filter is provided, a separate filter is provided in the optical converging system, or a filter is provided on the objective lens.

However, even when no dispersed light is generated, it is possible to cause all the light fluxes within the maximum numerical aperture to be condensed onto the information recording surface by providing only a normal aperture without providing a dichroic filter or a hologram filter. In other words, the first light flux and the second light flux within the maximum numerical aperture of the image side objective lens may be converged on the information recording surface in a state of 0.07 λ rms. Preferably the above embodiments do not produce diffuse light when NA 1-NA 2.

Incidentally, the first optical information recording medium and the second optical information recording medium, each representing a different information recording medium, mean information recording media each having a light wavelength for respective recording/reproduction. The thickness and refractive index of the transparent substrate are either the same or different. The specified numerical apertures are either the same or different. The specified numerical apertures are the same or different, and the information recording densities may be the same or different.

Paraxial chromatic aberration and spherical aberration caused by a difference in the wavelength of light used for recording/reproduction of respective different information recording media are corrected by the diffraction section of the present invention. Incidentally, it is preferable that both paraxial chromatic aberration and spherical aberration are corrected, and an embodiment in which only spherical aberration is corrected and paraxial chromatic aberration is not corrected is a preferable next embodiment, and an embodiment in which only paraxial chromatic aberration is corrected and spherical aberration is not corrected is also acceptable. Incidentally, as specific examples of the optical information recording medium, CD-R, CD-RW, DVD-RAM, LD, MD, MO and the like are listed. However, it is not limited thereto. In addition, an optical information recording medium using a blue laser can also be used.

Even when the thickness of the transparent substrate is different among different information recording media and spherical aberration is caused based on the thickness of the transparent substrate, the spherical aberration can be corrected by the diffraction section of the present invention. Incidentally, when the thickness of the transparent substrate is different in the first optical information recording medium and the second optical information recording medium, the spherical aberration brought is high, and therefore, the effect of the present invention is more remarkable, and is preferable.

Incidentally, it is preferable that the difference between the wavelength of the first light flux and the wavelength of the second light flux is in the range of 80nm to 400 nm. More preferably, in the range of 100nm to 200 nm. More preferably in the range of 120nm-200 nm. As the first light source and the second light source, it is possible to select two types of light sources from those having emission wavelengths of 760-. Of course 3 or 4 light sources may be used. When the third light source emitting the third light flux and the fourth light source emitting the fourth light flux are provided, it is preferable that n-order diffracted light is generated more than other-order diffracted light even in the third light flux and the fourth light flux passing through the diffraction part.

When the wavelength of the second light flux is longer than that of the first light flux, it is preferable that paraxial chromatic aberration in the second light flux and the first light flux satisfies the following conditional expression:

-λ₂/(2NA₂ ²)≤Z≤λ₂/(2NA₂ ²)

λ₂: wavelength of the second light flux

NA₂: designated numerical aperture of second optical information recording medium for second luminous flux image side objective lens

When recording media having different transparent substrate thicknesses are used, the following expression is preferably satisfied in the case where t2 > t1 and λ 2 > λ 1:

0.2×10^-6/℃＜ΔWSA3·λ₁/{f·(NA1)⁴·ΔT}＜2.2×10^-6/℃

NA 1: prescribed numerical aperture of first optical information recording medium for image side objective lens using first luminous flux

λ₁: wavelength of the first light flux

f 1: focal length of objective lens for first light flux

Δ T: fluctuation of ambient temperature

ΔWSA(λ₁rms): fluctuation amount of third-order spherical aberration component of spherical aberration of light flux condensed on optical information recording surface in the case of reproducing or recording optical information recording medium by using first light flux

It may also be provided that a first light flux representing an uncollimated light flux, such as diverging light or converging light, enters the objective lens in the case of using the first light flux, and a second light flux representing an uncollimated light flux, such as diverging light or converging light, enters the objective lens in the case of using the second light flux.

Alternatively, a first luminous flux representing a collimated luminous flux is caused to enter the objective lens in the case of using the first luminous flux, and a second luminous flux representing an uncollimated luminous flux such as a divergent light or a convergent light is also caused to enter the objective lens in the case of using the second luminous flux. Alternatively, it may be provided that a first luminous flux representing an uncalibrated luminous flux such as a divergent light or a convergent light in the case of using the first luminous flux enters the objective lens, and a second luminous flux representing a collimated light in the case of using the second luminous flux enters the objective lens.

When an uncalibrated light flux is used in one of the first light flux and the second light flux or in both light fluxes, it is preferable that the absolute value of the difference between the magnification m1 of the objective lens using the first light flux and the magnification m2 of the objective lens using the second light flux be in the range of 0 to 1/15. The preferred range is 0-1/18. At λ₂＞λ₁And t2 > t1, m1 is preferably large. The foregoing range is preferable particularly when the second light flux and the first light flux are used for CD and DVD, respectively. Incidentally, the wavelength of the first light source is at λ₁The wavelength of the second light source is represented by λ₂Typically, the thickness of the first transparent substrate is represented by t1, and the thickness of the second transparent substrate is represented by t 2.

Alternatively, it may be arranged such that a first light flux representing the collimated light flux and a second light flux representing the collimated light flux enter the objective lens. In this case, it is preferable that the diffraction part is in the form shown in fig. 47(a) and 47(b), although it may be in the form shown in fig. 47(a) and 47 (c).

In addition, it is also possible to provide divergence-varying means on the optical head device that varies the divergence of the light flux entering the objective lens, and thereby varies the divergence of the light flux entering the objective lens among the first light flux and the second light flux.

Incidentally, when divergent light enters the objective lens, it is preferable that the objective lens is a glass lens.

Incidentally, when only one of the first information recording medium and the second information recording medium is reproduced and recorded and only the other is reproduced, it is preferable that the total imaging magnification of the optical head device for the first light flux in the optical head device is different from the total imaging magnification of the optical head device for the second light flux. In this case, the imaging magnification of the objective lens for the first light flux is equal to or different from the imaging magnification of the objective lens for the second light flux.

In addition, when at λ₁＜λ₂And t1 < t2, when reproducing and recording are performed only for the first information recording medium and reproducing is performed only for the second information recording medium, it is preferable that the imaging magnification of the total optical head device for the first light flux is smaller than the imaging magnification of the total optical head device for the second light flux. In addition, when the foregoing condition 0.61 < NA1 < 0.66 is satisfied, it is preferable that a coupling lens for changing magnification be provided between the first light source and the collimator lens in the optical converging system, and the collimator lens for the first light flux and the collimator lens for the second light flux be provided in the optical converging system, respectively. Incidentally, it is preferable that the imaging magnification of the objective lens for the first light flux and the imaging magnification of the objective lens for the second light flux are both zero. Incidentally, the wavelength of the first light source is at λ ₁The wavelength of the second light source is represented by λ₂Typically, the thickness of the first transparent substrate is represented by t1, the thickness of the second transparent substrate is represented by t2, and the first optical information recording medium on the image side is a finger of an objective lens necessary for recording or reproducingThe numerical aperture is represented by NA 1.

In addition, when at λ₁＜λ₂And t1 < t2, when reproducing and recording are performed only on the second information recording medium and reproducing is performed only on the first information recording medium, it is preferable that the imaging magnification of the total optical head device for the first light flux is larger than the imaging magnification of the total optical head device for the second light flux. Incidentally, it is preferable that the imaging magnification of the objective lens for the first light flux and the imaging magnification of the objective lens for the second light flux are both zero.

Incidentally, when the first information recording medium and the second information recording medium are reproduced and recorded, or only reproduced, it is preferable that the total imaging magnification of the optical head device for the first light flux in the optical head device is almost the same as the total imaging magnification of the optical head device for the second light flux. In this case, the imaging magnification of the objective lens for the first light flux is equal to or different from the imaging magnification of the objective lens for the second light flux.

In addition, the photodetector may be shared for the first light flux and the second light flux. Alternatively, a second light detector may be provided such that the light detector is used for the first light flux and the second light detector is used for the second light flux.

The light detector and the first light source or the second light detector and the second light source may be combined. Or a photodetector in combination with the first and second light sources. Or the light detector, the second light detector, the first light source and the second light source are all combined. Alternatively, only the first light source and the second light source may be combined.

In particular, when the first light source and the second light source are combined and arranged side by side on the same plane, respectively, the first light source is preferably provided on the objective optical axis in the case of NA1 > NA2, and the second light source is preferably provided on the objective optical axis in the case of NA1 < NA 2. Incidentally, the designated numerical aperture of the objective lens necessary for recording or reproducing the first optical information recording medium on the image side is represented by NA1, and the designated numerical aperture of the objective lens necessary for recording or reproducing the second optical information recording medium on the image side is represented by NA 2.

Incidentally, when WD1 represents the working distance at the time of recording and reproducing the first optical information recording medium and WD2 represents the working distance at the time of recording and reproducing the second optical information recording medium, it is preferable that | WD1-WD2| ≦ 0.29 mm. In this case, the magnification for recording and reproducing the first optical information recording medium is the same as the magnification for recording and reproducing the second optical information recording medium. Preferably the magnification is zero. Further t1 < t2 and lambda ₁＜λ₂In the case of (2), WD1 > WD2 is preferable. These conditions regarding the working distance are particularly preferable when the first optical information recording medium is a DVD and the second optical information recording medium is a CD. Incidentally, when the foregoing working distance is satisfied, the form of the diffraction part shown in fig. 47(b) and 47(c) is more preferable than the form of the diffraction part shown in fig. 47(a) and 47 (d).

In addition, a condensing optical system or an optical element such as an objective lens forms a light spot so that a light flux can be condensed on an information recording surface of an optical information recording medium to record and reproduce information. In particular, when NA1 is greater than NA2 and λ₁Less than λ₂In this case, the light flux other than NA2 is diffused on the second information recording surface of the second optical information recording medium (the wavefront aberration on the image forming surface is made larger than 0.07 lambda)₂rms), the preferred spot satisfies the following condition in consideration of the second light flux.

0.66λ₂/NA2≤w≤1.15λ₂/NA2

w＞0.83λ₂/NA1

λ₁: wavelength of the first light flux

λ₂: wavelength of the second light flux

NA 1: prescribed numerical aperture for first light flux of first optical information recording medium

NA 2: prescribed numerical aperture for second light flux of second optical information recording medium

w: beam diameter of intensity of 13.5% of second light flux on image forming surface

Incidentally, when the spot is not perfectly circular, it is preferable that the beam diameter in the direction in which the beam diameter shrinks most be the beam diameter (w) described above.

More preferably, the following condition is satisfied:

0.74λ₂/NA2≤w≤0.98λ₂/NA2

as for the form of the light spot, there may be a high-intensity light spot for recording and reproduction located at the center, and the diffused light, which is reduced in intensity to a degree insufficient to adversely affect detection, is continuously distributed around the light spot, or a high-intensity light spot for recording and reproduction located at the center and the diffused light is distributed in a ring shape around the light spot.

In addition, for better detection of information, it is preferable that the S-type characteristic is good. Specifically, the over-intake is preferably 0% to 20%.

If the wavelength of the first light source is at λ₁The wavelength of the second light source is represented by λ₂Typically, the thickness of the first transparent substrate is represented by t1, the thickness of the second transparent substrate is represented by t2, the prescribed numerical aperture of the image side objective lens necessary for recording or reproducing the first optical information recording medium by the first light flux is represented by NA1, and the prescribed numerical aperture of the image side objective lens necessary for recording or reproducing the second optical information recording medium by the second light flux is represented by NA2, then the following conditional expressions are given as preferred embodiments. In this case, the preferred n-order diffracted light is the positive first-order diffracted light. The preferred embodiments are, of course, not limited by the following conditional expressions.

λ₁＞λ₂

t1＜t2

NA1 > NA2 (preferred NA1 > NA2 > 0.5 xNA 1)

In the case where the above conditional expressions are satisfied, the objective lens of the condensing optical system includes a diffraction portion, and the spherical aberration may include a discontinuous portion in at least one position shown in fig. 112 when the condensing optical system condenses the n-th order diffracted light in the second light flux passing through the diffraction portion onto the second information recording surface of the second optical information recording medium.

In the case where the discontinuous portion is included, it is preferable that the spherical aberration may include the discontinuous portion at a position near the NA 2. For example, the following. At the position where NA is 0.45, the spherical aberration includes a discontinuous portion, and at the position where NA is 0.5, the spherical aberration includes a discontinuous portion.

In the case where the discontinuity portion is included, the condensing optical system condenses the n-order diffracted light having a numerical aperture smaller than NA1 in the first light flux passing through the diffraction portion onto the first information recording surface of the first optical information recording medium so that the wavefront phase difference at the optimum image point is 0.07 λ rms, and the condensing optical system condenses the n-order diffracted light having a numerical aperture smaller than the numerical aperture of the discontinuity portion in the second light flux passing through the diffraction portion onto the second information recording surface of the second optical information recording medium so that the wavefront phase difference at the optimum image point is 0.07 λ rms.

In addition, in the case where the above conditional expressions are satisfied, it is possible that the conversion optical system includes an objective lens having a diffraction portion, and in the case where the condensing optical system condenses the n-th order diffracted light of the second light flux passing through the diffraction portion onto the second information recording surface of the second optical information recording medium to record or reproduce the second optical information recording medium, the spherical aberration is continuous without the discontinuous portion shown in fig. 27.

In the case where the spherical aberration has no discontinuous portion but is continuous, it is preferable that the spherical aberration is not less than 20 μm at NA1 and not more than 10 μm at NA 2. It is more preferable that the spherical aberration at NA1 is not less than 50 μm, and the spherical aberration at NA2 is not more than 2 μm.

The following embodiments are given as specific and preferred examples in which one type of DVD is used as the first optical information recording medium and one type of CD is used as the second optical information recording medium in the foregoing states, to which the present invention is not limited.

0.55mm＜t1＜0.65mm

1.1mm＜t2＜1.3mm

630mm＜λ₁＜670nm

760nm＜λ₂＜820nm

0.55＜NA1＜0.68

0.40＜NA2＜0.55

When the diffraction part is annular zone diffraction in the case of the aforementioned range, it is preferable that the diffraction part corresponding to NA2 or less is not more than 19 zones or not less than 21 zones. It is also preferable that the whole diffraction part is not less than 35 zones or not more than 33 zones.

In addition, in the case where the above range is satisfied, it is preferable that the diameter of the spot satisfies the following embodiments, and the conversion optical system includes an objective lens having a diffraction section, λ₁650nm, t1 0.6mm, NA1 0.6mm, and wherein in the case where a first light flux composed of parallel light and having a uniform intensity distribution is introduced into the objective lens and condensed onto the first information recording surface via the first transparent substrate, the diameter of the condensed spot in the best focus state is 0.88 μm to 0.91 μm.

In addition, preferably λ₁650nm, t1 0.6mm, NA1 0.65, and wherein in the case where a first light flux composed of parallel light and having a uniform intensity distribution is introduced into the objective lens and condensed onto the first information recording surface via the first transparent substrate, the diameter of the condensed spot in the best focus state is 0.81 μm to 0.84 μm.

In addition, in the case where the above range is satisfied and the diffraction section is provided on the objective lens, when NA is 0.4, the pitch of the diffraction section is 10 μm to 70 μm. More preferably the pitch is 20 μm to 50 μm.

In addition, the following examples are given as specific and preferred examples under the foregoing conditions, wherein the present invention is not limited thereto. When recording is also performed on a CD as the second optical information recording medium, NA2 is preferably 0.5 in particular. When a DVD, which is the first optical information recording medium, is also recorded, NA1 is preferably 0.65.

t1＝0.6mm

t2＝1.2mm

λ₁＝650nm

λ₂＝780nm

NA1＝0.6

NA2＝0.45

The following embodiments are also acceptable, and in the following embodiments, it is preferable that the n-order diffracted light is negative first-order light.

λ₁＜λ₂

t1＞t2

As specific examples of the optical information recording medium reproducing or recording apparatus having the optical head device of the present invention for reproducing or recording information from or on the optical information recording medium, a DVD/CD reproducing apparatus, a DVD/CD-R recording and reproducing apparatus, a DVD-RAM/DVD/CD-R/CD recording and reproducing apparatus, a DVD/CD-RW recording and reproducing apparatus, a DVD/LD recording and reproducing apparatus, a DVD/optical information recording medium recording and reproducing apparatus using a blue laser, and a CD/optical information recording medium recording and reproducing apparatus using a blue laser are given here, but the invention is not limited thereto. These optical information recording medium reproducing or recording apparatuses have a power supply and a spindle motor in addition to the optical head device.

Next, preferred embodiments of the present invention will be described.

To achieve the above object, the optical system of item 1 includes 1 or more optical elements, and in the optical system for at least one of reproducing information from a recording medium and recording information to the recording medium, at least one of the optical elements has a diffraction surface which selectively generates diffracted light of the same order for light of at least two mutually different wavelengths.

According to item 1, since the optical element has a diffraction surface, spherical aberration can be corrected for light of at least two wavelengths different from each other and also axial chromatic aberration can be corrected. That is, with a simple structure in which many optical elements such as an objective lens or the like are commonly used, spherical aberration and axial chromatic aberration can be corrected, so that the size and weight of the optical system are reduced, and the cost is also reduced. In addition, since the optical system has diffraction surfaces that selectively generate diffracted light of the same order for at least two mutually different wavelengths of light, the loss of the amount of light is reduced. And a sufficient amount of light can be obtained even when the necessary numerical apertures are different, for example, by using a common objective lens.

Further, in the optical system of item 2, which includes one or more optical elements and is used for at least one of reproduction of information from a recording medium and recording of information to the recording medium, diffraction surfaces that selectively generate diffracted light rays of a specific order respectively for light having at least two mutually different wavelengths are formed on almost the entire surface of at least one light surface of at least one optical element of the above-mentioned optical elements.

According to item 2, since the diffraction surface is formed on the optical element, spherical aberration and axial chromatic aberration can be corrected for light having at least two mutually different wavelengths in the same manner as in item 1. In addition, since the diffraction surface is formed on almost the entire surface of at least one optical surface of the optical element, correction can be performed more efficiently.

Incidentally, the respective terms are defined as follows. First, the optical element refers to each of all optical elements applied to an optical system to record information to and/or reproduce information on an information recording medium, and a coupling lens, an objective lens, a polarizing beam splitter, an 1/4 wavelength plate, or a beam splitter combining light from two or more light sources, etc. are generally listed, but the optical element is not limited thereto. In addition, an optical element provided with only the diffractive portion of the present invention and having no other function may be used.

In addition, the optical system of the present invention is a combination of 1 or more optical elements to record information on, for example, CDs and DVDs or to reproduce information therefrom, and means that not only the entire optical system but also a part of the optical system can record information on an information recording medium and/or reproduce information on an information recording medium, and the optical system includes at least 1 optical element as described above.

As the information recording medium of the present invention, a disk-shaped information recording medium is listed, for example, various CDs such as CD, CD-R, CD-RW, CD-Video, CD-ROM, etc., or various DVDs such as DVD, DVD-ROM, DVD-RAM, DVD-R, DVD-RW, etc., or MD, LD, MO, etc. In general, a transparent substrate is present on the information recording surface of an information recording medium. Needless to say, the information recording medium is not limited to the above. The information recording medium used in the present invention includes an optical information recording medium such as a blue laser currently available in the market.

In the present invention, recording of information on an information recording medium or reproduction of information on an information recording medium refers to recording information on an information recording surface of an information recording medium and reproduction of information recorded on the information recording surface. The optical head device and the optical system of the present invention may be those for recording only or reproduction only, or those for recording and reproduction. In addition, the optical head device and the optical system can be used for recording to and reproducing from one information recording medium or recording and reproducing from one information recording medium and recording and reproducing from another information recording medium. Incidentally, reproduction for here includes only readout of information.

In addition, the optical head device and the optical system used for at least one of recording or reproduction of the information recording medium include an optical head device and an optical system, and of course, are used for the above-mentioned purpose, and there are also optical head devices and optical systems that are actually used or intended for such purpose.

In the present invention, the light having at least two wavelengths different from each other may have two different wavelengths, such as light having a wavelength of 780nm for a CD and a wavelength of 635nm or 650nm for a DVD. And may be lights having 3 kinds of wavelengths different from each other, which also includes, for example, lights having a wavelength of 400nm for recording and/or reproducing a large capacity of densely recorded information recording media. Of course, light having more than 4 different wavelengths may also be permissible. In addition, even in an optical system in which actually 3 or more different wavelengths are used, of course or intended to use 3 or more different wavelengths, it means light having at least two different wavelengths therein. Of course, a combination of 400nm and 780nm or a combination of 400nm and 650nm may also be used.

In the present invention, light having different wavelengths refers to light having wavelengths sufficiently different from each other, which is used for the respective kinds of information recording media, as described above, i.e., media having different recording densities, but it does not refer to light having different wavelengths generated by temporal variation within about ± 10nm caused by temperature variation or output variation of a 1-light source outputting light of 1 wavelength. In addition, as factors by which light having different wavelengths is applied, for example, a difference in thickness of a transparent substrate of an information recording medium or a difference between recording and reproduction is listed, in addition to the above-described difference in the kind or recording density of the information recording medium.

In addition, the diffraction plane refers to a surface in which irregularities are provided on a surface of an optical element, for example, on a lens surface, and which has a function of converging or diverging a light flux by diffraction, and it refers to diffraction occurring when there is an area where diffraction occurs and there is an area where diffraction does not occur on the same optical surface. As the shape of the unevenness, for example, concentric circular ring zones are formed on the surface of the optical element around the optical axis, and when a cross section is viewed on a plane including the optical axis, it is known that each circular ring zone has a saw-toothed shape (hereinafter, circular ring zones are referred to as annular zones), and the diffraction surface includes such a shape.

In general, from the diffraction surface, infinite order diffraction rays such as zeroth order light, ± 1 order diffraction rays, ± 2 order diffraction rays and the like can be generated, and in the case where the meridional cross-sectional portion has the above-described jagged irregularities, the shape of the undulations can be set so that the diffraction efficiency of a specific order is higher than that of the other orders, or in a specific environment, the diffraction efficiency of a specific one order (for example, the positive order) is almost 100%. In the present invention, the diffraction light of a specific order is selectively generated, which means that the diffraction efficiency of the diffraction light of the specific order is higher than the diffraction efficiency of each of the diffraction light of other orders than the specific order for light having a predetermined wavelength, and the specific orders of the diffraction light of the specific order, which are selectively generated respectively, are the same for each of light having two wavelengths different from each other, meaning that the diffraction waves of the same order are selectively generated. Here, the orders of the diffracted waves are the same, meaning that the orders of the diffracted waves, including the signs, are all the same.

In addition, the diffraction efficiency is obtained by obtaining the ratio of the light amount of diffracted light of each order to all diffracted light from the shape (undulated shape) of the diffraction surface and by a simulation calculation in which the wavelength to be emitted is set to a predetermined wavelength. As the predetermined wavelength, 780nm or 650nm is listed as a wavelength example.

In addition, the diffractive surface is formed on almost the entire surface of at least one optical surface of the optical element, meaning that the diffractive structure (relief) is provided on at least almost all the range through which the light flux passes on the optical surface, not the optical element in which the diffractive structure is provided on a part of the optical surface, for example, the diffractive structure is provided only on, for example, a circumferential part. In this case, the range through which the light flux from the light source passes to the information recording medium side is determined by an aperture stop for the optical system or the optical head device. The range in which the diffraction plane is formed relates to almost all the surface of the optical surface when viewed as an optical element single body provided with the diffraction plane, but, in general, the diffraction plane is also formed on a circumferential portion through which light flux does not pass, leaving a side to some extent, so that when this portion is regarded as a usable area included in the optical surface as the optical surface, it is preferable that the area ratio of the diffraction plane in the optical surface exceeds at least half or more, preferably almost 100% of the optical element single body.

Further, the optical system in item 3 is characterized in that the two specific-order diffracted lights selectively generated respectively are of the same order as the respective lights having the two wavelengths different from each other.

According to the item 3, since the diffraction efficiency of the light rays diffracted in the same order is maximized by the diffraction surface for each of the light rays having the two wavelengths, the loss of the amount of light is smaller than that in the case where the diffraction efficiency of the light rays diffracted in the same order is maximized by the diffraction surface.

Further, the optical system of item 4 is characterized in that the same-order diffracted light is first-order diffracted light. The first order diffracted light may be positive first order diffracted light or negative first order diffracted light.

According to item 4, since the same-order diffracted light is the first-order diffracted light, the loss of the amount of light is smaller than in the case where the same-order diffracted light is the higher order than the first order.

Further, the optical system in item 5 is characterized in that at least 1 optical element of the optical elements having the diffraction surfaces is a lens having a refractive index. The optical system in item 5 may be an optical system in which a fine structure (relief) for diffraction is also formed on a lens surface having a refractive index. In this case, the surrounding surface of the fine structure for diffraction is the shape of the diffraction surface of the lens. For example, a so-called blaze-type (blaze) diffraction surface is provided on at least one surface of an aspherical single-lens objective lens, and it may be a lens provided with an annular zone whose meridional cross section is serrated over its entire surface.

According to item 5, since the optical element having the diffraction surface is a lens having a refractive index, spherical aberration and chromatic aberration can be corrected, and the number of parts can be reduced.

In addition, the optical system in item 6 is characterized in that the shape of the diffraction surface of the lens is aspherical.

The optical system in the item 7 is further characterized in that the lens makes a diffraction efficiency for diffracted light having a certain 1 wavelength larger than a diffraction efficiency for diffracted light having a maximum wavelength and a minimum wavelength, wherein the certain 1 wavelength is a wavelength between the maximum wavelength and the minimum wavelength of at least two wavelengths different from each other.

Further, the optical system in item 8 is characterized in that the lens makes a diffraction efficiency of diffracted light rays for light having maximum and minimum wavelengths of at least two wavelengths different from each other larger than a diffraction efficiency of diffracted light rays for light having wavelengths between the maximum and minimum wavelengths of at least two wavelengths different from each other.

Further, the optical system in item 9 is characterized in that the sign of the diffraction effect added by the diffraction surface of the lens is switched at least one order in a direction away from the optical axis perpendicular to the optical axis.

According to item 9, the sign of the diffraction effect increased by the diffraction surface of the lens is switched at least one order in the direction away from the optical axis perpendicular to the optical axis, so that the wavelength variation of the spherical aberration can be suppressed.

In addition, the optical system in item 10 is characterized in that the diffractive effect added by the diffractive surface of the lens is switched from negative sign to positive sign by one order in a direction separated from an optical axis perpendicular to the optical axis.

According to item 10, since the increased diffractive power of the diffractive surface of the lens is switched from minus to plus one order in a direction separated from the optical axis perpendicular to the optical axis, when, for example, parallel light enters the objective lens in the CD system and the DVD system, fluctuation of spherical aberration due to the difference in thickness of the transparent substrate of the information recording medium can be effectively corrected without making the annular zone pitch of the diffractive surface too small.

With regard to the diffractive power, in the case of an optical element provided with an optical surface having a refractive action and a diffractive action, in other words, in the case of an optical element in which a diffractive surface is provided with an optical surface having a refractive action, by the action of the diffractive surface, the action of converging or diverging luminous flux is added to the diffractive action of the refractive surface as a base. In this case, when the convergence effect is increased to light at a practically limited height, not limited to near-axis light, in the present invention, the following is also defined: the predetermined position of the refractive surface has positive diffractive power, and when the convergence action is increased, has negative diffractive power.

The optical system in item 11 is characterized in that the diffraction surface is constituted by a plurality of annular zones as viewed from the optical axis, and the plurality of annular zones are constituted as almost concentric annular rings around the optical axis or a point close to the optical axis. That is, the diffraction surface of the term 11 is a stepwise endless belt of the type disclosed in, for example, japanese patent laid-open No. 6-242373, which discontinuously varies in a direction in which the lens thickness increases as it goes away from the optical axis.

The optical system in the term 12 is characterized in that the phase difference function expressed in a power series representing respective positions of the plurality of annular zones has a nonzero coefficient in at least 1 term other than the power term of order 2.

According to item 12, the spherical aberration can be controlled between two different wavelengths. Here, "controllable" means that the difference in spherical aberration can be made very small between two wavelengths, and the difference necessary for optical specifications can be provided.

The optical system in the term 13 is characterized in that the phase difference function expressed as a power series indicating each position of the plurality of annular zones has a non-zero coefficient in the power term of order 2.

According to item 14, correction of chromatic aberration in the paraxial region can be performed efficiently.

The optical system in the term 13 is characterized in that the phase difference function expressed in the power series representing the respective positions of the plurality of annular zones does not include the power term of order 2.

According to the term 14, since the phase difference function does not include the 2 nd power term, the paraxial ratio of the diffraction surface is zero, and only the terms exceeding 4 th order or more are used, whereby the pitch of the diffraction annular band is not too small, and the spherical aberration can be controlled.

The optical system according to item 15 is characterized in that the objective lens is included in one or more optical elements, and a wavefront aberration on the image information surface does not exceed 0.07 λ rms in a predetermined numerical aperture of the objective lens image measurement for respective lights (wavelength λ) having at least two wavelengths different from each other.

According to item 15, since the wavefront aberration in the predetermined numerical aperture measured from the objective lens does not exceed the allowable value of Mareshall of 0.07 λ rms, good optical characteristics with a small spherical aberration can be obtained.

The optical system of item 16 is characterized in that if one wavelength λ of at least two wavelengths different from each other is present₁Varying within + -10 nm, the wavefront aberration on the image information surface does not exceed 0.07 lambda 1rms at a predetermined numerical aperture of the objective lens image.

According to item 16, even the wavelength λ₁Good optical properties with small spherical aberration can also be obtained with variations in the range of + -10 nm.

The optical system according to item 17, further comprising a wavelength λ having at least two wavelengths different from each other₂And a numerical aperture for an image side having an objective lens therein is larger than that for an image side having a wavelength λ ₂Of a predetermined numerical aperture of light of another wavelength having a wavelength lambda₂Is not less than 0.07 lambda in a predetermined numerical aperture of light having another wavelength₂rms。

According to item 17, since there is a wavelength λ₂Has a wavefront aberration not smaller than a predetermined numerical aperture of light having another wavelength (which is not smaller than light having a wavelength λ)₂Predetermined numerical aperture of light) of 0.07 λ₂rms for a wavelength λ₂The appropriate spot diameter can be obtained. That is, for a figure in practical use, the aberration is made almost zero, and for a portion outside thereof, the aberration becomes dispersed light, so that a predetermined effect can be obtained.

Further, the optical system according to item 18Characterised by having a wavelength lambda on the image-forming surface₂Has a wavefront aberration not smaller than 0.10 lambda in a predetermined numerical aperture of light having another wavelength₂rms。

According to item 18, since there is a wavelength λ₂Has a wavefront aberration not smaller than a predetermined numerical aperture for light having another wavelength (which is larger than for light having a wavelength λ)₂Predetermined numerical aperture of light) of 0.10 λ₂rms for a wavelength λ₂A more appropriate spot diameter can be obtained.

The optical system of item 19 is characterized in that when the predetermined numerical aperture of the light having another wavelength is NA1 and has a wavelength λ ₂The predetermined numerical aperture of light of (1) is NA2, and the optical system satisfies NA1 > NA2 > 0.5NA 1.

Further, the optical system in item 20 is characterized in that a parallel light flux for light of at least one wavelength having at least two wavelengths different from each other enters the objective lens, and a non-parallel light flux for light having another wavelength enters the objective lens.

According to item 20, since the parallel light flux for light of at least one wavelength having at least two wavelengths different from each other enters the objective lens and the non-parallel light flux for light of another wavelength enters the objective lens, the variation in spherical aberration can be suppressed to a small value for the variation of about 10nm in the wavelength of each of the lights having at least two wavelengths.

Further, the optical system in item 21 is characterized in that parallel luminous fluxes enter the objective lens for at least two wavelengths of light having at least two wavelengths different from each other.

Further, the optical system in item 22 is characterized in that non-parallel luminous fluxes for at least two wavelengths of light having at least two wavelengths different from each other enter the objective lens.

Further, the optical system in item 23 is characterized in that when the longer wavelength of any two wavelengths of at least two wavelengths different from each other is defined as λ ₃And for having a wavelength λ₃Is defined as NA, the wavelength lambda is determined by the predetermined numerical aperture on the image side of the optical objective₃And the axial color difference between the shorter wavelength is not less than-lambda₃/(2NA²) Is not greater than + lambda₃/(2NA²)。

According to item 23, when the wavelength is switched, since the focus is hardly changed, the focus servo is unnecessary, and the range moved by the focus servo is narrowed.

Further, the optical system of item 24 is characterized in that lights having at least two wavelengths different from each other are used for the information recording media different in transparent substrate thickness thereof, respectively.

Further, the optical system in item 25 is characterized in that the at least two wavelengths different from each other are 3 wavelengths different from each other.

Further, the optical system in item 26 is characterized in that when three wavelengths different from each other are defined as λ respectively₁、λ₂、λ₃(λ₁＜λ₂＜λ₃) And predetermined numerical apertures on the image side of each of the objective lenses for three wavelengths different from each other are respectively defined as NA1, NA2, and NA3, satisfying the following expression: NA1 is more than or equal to 0.60, NA2 is more than or equal to 0.60, and NA3 is more than or equal to 0.40 and less than or equal to 0.50.

In addition, the optical system according to item 27 is characterized in that a filter capable of shielding at least a part of light entering the objective lens outside a minimum predetermined numerical aperture of the predetermined numerical aperture is provided.

Further, the optical systems in items 28 and 29 are characterized in that the optical element having a diffraction surface is an objective lens.

Further, the optical system according to item 30 is characterized in that the objective lens includes one lens.

Further, the optical system in item 31 is characterized in that objective lens diffraction surfaces are provided on both surfaces of the objective lens.

Further, the optical system according to item 32 is characterized in that the Abbe number vd of the objective lens material is not less than 50.

According to item 32, the second order spectrum can be reduced when correcting for axial chromatic aberration for light sources having two different wavelengths.

Further, the optical system according to item 33 is characterized in that the objective lens is made of plastic. According to item 33, a low-cost lightweight optical system can be obtained. Further, the optical system in item 34 is characterized in that the objective lens is made of glass. According to items 33 and 34, a system that can withstand a strong change in temperature is obtained.

Further, the optical system according to item 35 is characterized in that the objective lens has a resin layer on which a diffraction surface is formed on a glass lens surface thereof. According to item 35, since the resin layer on which the diffraction surface is easily formed is provided on the glass lens, an optical system which is strong in resistance to temperature change and advantageous in terms of cost can be obtained.

Further, the optical system in item 36 is characterized in that a wavelength difference between at least two wavelengths different from each other is not less than 80 nm.

Further, the optical system in item 37 is characterized in that a wavelength difference between at least two wavelengths different from each other is not more than 400 nm.

Further, the optical system in item 38 is characterized in that a wavelength difference between at least two wavelengths different from each other is not less than 100nm and not more than 200 nm.

Further, the optical system in item 39 is characterized in that, for respective lights having at least two wavelengths different from each other, diffraction efficiencies of selectively generated specific-order diffracted lights are higher by 10% than diffraction efficiencies of respective diffracted lights of orders other than the specific order.

Further, the optical system according to item 40 is characterized in that, for respective lights having at least two wavelengths different from each other, diffraction efficiencies of diffracted lights of a specific order that can be selectively generated respectively are higher by 30% or more than diffraction efficiencies of respective diffracted lights of orders other than the specific order.

Further, the optical system according to item 41 is characterized in that, for respective lights having at least two wavelengths different from each other, diffraction efficiencies of selectively generated specific-order diffracted lights respectively are higher by 50% or more than diffraction efficiencies of respective diffracted lights of orders other than the specific order.

Further, the optical system according to item 42 is characterized in that, for respective lights having at least two wavelengths different from each other, diffraction efficiencies of diffracted lights of a specific order that can be selectively generated respectively are higher than diffraction efficiencies of respective diffracted lights of orders other than the specific order by 70% or more.

In addition, the optical system according to item 43 is characterized in that, when the selectively produced specific-order diffracted light rays having at least two wavelengths different from each other are focused, since the diffraction surface is provided, the spherical aberration is improved as compared with the case without the diffraction surface.

Further, the optical system in item 44 is characterized in that, for respective lights (wavelength λ) having at least two wavelengths different from each other, wavefront chromatic aberration on the image forming surface of the diffraction light rays of the specific order selectively generated respectively does not exceed 0.07 λ rms.

Item 45 is an optical head device including the above optical systems.

Further, the optical head device in item 46 comprises: at least two light sources that output light having wavelengths different from each other; an optical system including one or more optical elements through which the light source is condensed onto the information recording medium; and a photodetector for detecting transmitted light from the information recording medium or reflected light from the information recording medium, wherein at least one of the optical elements has a diffraction surface for selectively generating diffracted light of the same order as light having two different wavelengths output from the at least two light sources.

Further, the optical head device according to item 47 includes: at least two light sources that output light having wavelengths different from each other; an optical system including one or more optical elements through which light from a light source is condensed onto an information recording medium; and a photodetector for detecting transmitted light from the information recording medium or reflected light from the information recording medium, characterized in that a diffraction surface for selectively generating diffracted light of a specific order respectively for respective lights having two different wavelengths output from the at least two light sources is formed on almost the entire surface of at least one optical surface of at least one of the optical elements.

Further, the optical head device in item 48 is characterized in that at least one of the optical elements having the diffraction surfaces described in items 46 and 47 is a lens having diffractive power.

Further, the optical head device in item 49 is characterized in that the lens makes diffraction efficiency of diffracted light rays for light having a wavelength between a maximum wavelength and a minimum wavelength output from the at least two light sources larger than diffraction efficiency of diffracted light rays for light having a maximum wavelength and a minimum wavelength.

Further, the optical head device in item 50 is characterized in that the lens makes diffraction efficiency of diffracted light for light having a maximum wavelength or a minimum wavelength output from the at least two light sources larger than diffraction efficiency of diffracted light for light having a wavelength between a maximum wavelength and a minimum wavelength of at least two different wavelengths from each other.

Further, the optical head device according to item 51 is characterized in that the lens has a flange at an outer periphery. The optical head device according to item 52 is characterized in that the flange portion has a surface extending in a direction almost perpendicular to an optical axis of the lens. By this flange portion, the lens can be easily attached to the optical head device, and when a surface extending in a direction almost perpendicular to the optical axis of the lens is provided, more accurate attachment can be easily performed.

Further, the optical head device in item 53 is characterized in that the objective lens is included in at least one or more optical elements, and that for each of the lights (wavelength λ) having two different wavelengths output from the at least two light sources, wavefront aberration on the image forming plane is not more than 0.07 λ rms in a predetermined numerical aperture on the image side of the objective lens.

Further, the optical head device in item 54 is characterized in that the objective lens is included in at least one or more optical elements, and that for each of the lights (wavelength λ) having two different wavelengths output from the at least two light sources, the wavefront aberration on the image forming plane is not more than 0.07 λ rms in the maximum numerical aperture on the image side of the objective lens.

Further, the optical head device in item 55 is characterized in that even at one wavelength λ of two different wavelengths outputted from the at least two light sources ₁The wavefront aberration on the image forming surface is not larger than 0.07 lambda in a predetermined numerical aperture on the image side of the objective lens when varied within + -10 nm₁rms。

Further, the optical pickup device according to item 56 is characterized in that, for one wavelength λ having two different wavelengths output from at least two light sources₂And for a predetermined numerical aperture on the image side of the object lens greater than having a wavelength lambda₂Of the predetermined numerical aperture of the light of (1), the wavefront aberration on the image forming surface of the light having the wavelength λ 2 is not smaller than 0.07 λ in the predetermined numerical aperture of the light having the other wavelength₂rms。

Further, the image pickup device in item 57 is characterized by having a wavelength λ₂Is not less than 0.10 lambda in a predetermined numerical aperture of light having another wavelength₂rms。

Further, the image pickup device in item 58 is characterized in that when the predetermined numerical aperture of the light having another wavelength is defined as NA1, and has a wavelength λ₂Is defined as NA2, satisfies the following expression: NA1 > NA2 > 0.5 × NA 1.

Further, the image pickup device in item 59 is characterized in that a parallel light flux for light having at least one wavelength of two different wavelengths output from the at least two light sources enters the objective lens, and a non-parallel light flux for light having at least another wavelength enters the objective lens.

In addition, the image pickup device in item 60 is characterized in that parallel luminous fluxes for lights having two different wavelengths output from at least two light sources enter the objective lens.

Further, the image pickup device in item 61 is characterized in that non-parallel luminous fluxes for lights having two different wavelengths output from at least two light sources enter the objective lens.

Further, the image pickup device in item 62 is characterized in that when the longer wavelength of two different wavelengths output from at least two light sources is defined as λ₃And for having a wavelength λ₃When the predetermined numerical aperture on the object side of the light is defined as NA, the wavelength λ₃And the axial color difference between the shorter wavelength is not less than-lambda₃/(2NA²) Is not greater than + lambda₃/(2NA²)。

Further, the image pickup device in item 63 is characterized in that lights having two different wavelengths output from at least two light sources are respectively used for information recording media having different thicknesses of transparent substrates.

In addition, the image pickup device in item 64 is characterized in that the diffraction surface is constituted by a plurality of annular zones as viewed from the optical axis direction, and the plurality of annular zones are constituted as almost concentric annular rings around the optical axis or a point close to the optical axis. Also, the following relationship is established between the pitch Pf of the annular zones corresponding to the maximum numerical aperture on the image side of the objective lens and the pitch Ph of the annular zones corresponding to the maximum numerical aperture of 1/2: the absolute value (Ph/Pf) -2 is more than or equal to 0.4 and less than or equal to 25.

According to item 64, in the case where more than the lower limit is in the above relationship, the diffraction action of correcting the higher-order spherical aberration is not weakened and therefore, the spherical aberration difference value between the two wavelengths generated by the thickness difference of the transparent substrate can be corrected by the diffraction action. If the number of diffraction zones is less than the upper limit, a portion where the pitch of the diffraction annular zones is too small is hardly generated, and a lens with high diffraction efficiency can be produced. Further, the above relational expression is preferably 0.8. ltoreq. i (Ph/Pf) -2. ltoreq.6.0, more preferably 1.2. ltoreq. i (Ph/Pf) -2. ltoreq.2.0.

Further, the image pickup device in item 65 is characterized in that the at least two light sources are three light sources.

Further, the image pickup device in item 66 is characterized in that when light having three wavelengths output from the three light sources is defined as λ respectively₁、λ₂、λ₃(λ₁＜λ₂＜λ₃) And the predetermined numerical apertures on the image side of each of the objective lenses for the three different wavelengths are defined as NA1, NA2, and NA3, satisfying the following expression: NA1 is more than or equal to 0.60, NA2 is more than or equal to 0.60, and NA3 is more than or equal to 0.40 and less than or equal to 0.50.

Further, the image pickup device of item 67 resides in providing a filter capable of shielding at least a part of light entering the objective lens outside a minimum predetermined numerical aperture of the predetermined numerical aperture.

Further, the optical pickup device according to item 68 is characterized in that: an aperture defining means is provided such that a predetermined numerical aperture is obtained for each of the 2 different wavelengths.

Further, the optical head device according to item 69 is characterized in that: there is no aperture definition of a predetermined numerical aperture that can be obtained for each of the 2 different wavelengths. For example, specifically, the maximum numerical aperture has an aperture definition that is not set for a smaller predetermined numerical aperture. Therefore, an aperture defining means such as a filter having wavelength selectivity is not necessary, and therefore, the cost can be reduced and the size can be reduced.

Further, the optical head device according to item 70 is characterized in that: the objective lens is included in more than one optical element, and is common when lights having wavelengths different from each other are respectively condensed on the information recording medium.

Further, the optical head device according to item 71 is characterized in that: the unit in which at least two light sources and the object are concentrated is driven at least in parallel with the main surface of the information recording medium.

Further, the optical head device according to item 72 is characterized in that: the unit is driven perpendicularly to the main surface of the information recording medium.

Further, item 73 is a recording and reproducing apparatus, characterized in that: an optical head device is mounted to record or reproduce at least one of audio and video.

In addition, the lens of item 74 is characterized by: in a lens for performing at least one of recording or reproduction of information on an information recording medium, plus and minus signs added from a diffraction surface having a refractive index and a diffraction surface on at least one optical surface are inverted at least one order in a direction away from an optical axis in a direction perpendicular to the optical axis.

Further, the lens of item 75 is characterized by: in the lens of item 74, the diffraction surface has a plurality of engraved diffraction zones, and the step portion thereof is located on the side away from the optical axis in the diffraction zone on the side close to the optical axis, and the step portion thereof is located on the side close to the optical axis in the diffraction zone on the side away from the optical axis. In addition, the lens of item 76 is characterized by: the diffraction surface has a plurality of engraved diffraction zones, the step portions of which are located on the side close to the optical axis within the diffraction zones, and the step portions of which are located on the side away from the optical axis in the diffraction zones on the side close to the optical axis on the side away from the optical axis.

Further, item 77 is an optical element applicable to an optical system for recording information into an information recording medium or for reproducing information from an information recording medium, the optical element characterized in that: when the device is used in an optical system for recording information into an information recording medium and/or for reproducing information from an information recording medium, in which light uses at least two wavelengths different from each other, the optical element has a diffraction surface to selectively generate diffracted light of the same order for light having at least two wavelengths different from each other.

Further, item 78 is a lens that can be regarded as an objective lens in an optical system for recording information to an information recording medium or for reproducing information from an information recording medium, the lens being characterized in that: when it is used as an objective lens in an optical system for recording information to an information recording medium or for reproducing information from an information recording medium, in which light having at least two wavelengths different from each other is used, it has a diffraction surface to select diffraction powers that produce diffracted light of the same order for light having two wavelengths different from each other.

Further, item 79 is an optical element that can be used in an optical system for recording information to an information recording medium or for reproducing information from an information recording medium, the optical element characterized in that: when used in an optical system for recording information to and/or reproducing information from an information recording medium, in which light having at least two wavelengths different from each other is used, a diffraction surface is formed on almost the entire surface of at least one optical surface to selectively produce a prescribed diffracted light for light having at least two wavelengths different from each other.

Further, item 80 is a lens that can be regarded as an objective lens for use in an optical system for recording information to an information recording medium or for reproducing information from an information recording medium, said lens characterized in that: when it is used as an objective lens in an optical system for recording information to and/or reproducing information from an information recording medium in which light having at least two wavelengths different from each other is used, a diffraction surface is formed on almost the entire surface of at least one optical surface so as to selectively produce diffracted light of a prescribed order for light having at least two wavelengths different from each other.

Further, the diffractive light system for the optical disk in item 81 is characterized in that: in a recording and reproducing optical system having two light sources of different wavelengths and using the same optical system for both recording and reproduction, the optical system includes an optical surface on which a diffractive zone lens is located on a refractive surface, thereby eliminating aberrations caused by the difference in wavelength on the refractive surface and eliminating aberrations caused by the diffractive zone lens, the diffracted light rays for eliminating the action are the same order diffracted light rays for the wavelengths of the 2 light sources.

As described above, such a diffraction optical system is characterized in that: it comprises an optical surface on which a diffractive annular zone lens is located on a refractive surface, and for each of light sources having two different wavelengths, certain 1 type of diffracted light of the same order caused by the diffractive surface and spherical aberration are eliminated, and therefore these light rays are corrected to be free of aberration, which is almost equal to the diffraction limit. The diffracted light of the same order is preferably diffracted light of the first order.

As a method of the present invention for making the same order diffracted light energy respond to each wavelength of 2 light sources, the method has advantages in that: the overall loss of light is small compared to the case where diffracted light of different orders is made to respond. For example, in the case where two wavelengths of 780nm and 635nm are used, when the first order diffracted light is used for the two wavelengths, the total loss of the light amount is smaller than that in the case where the first order diffracted light is used for one wavelength and the zero order diffracted light is used for the other wavelength. In addition, in the case where the same-order diffracted light is used for the two different wavelengths of light, when the first-order diffracted light is used, the loss of the amount of light is smaller than in the case where the higher-order diffracted light is used.

In addition, the diffractive light system for the optical disk of item 82 is characterized in that: the aberrations to be eliminated are spherical aberration and/or chromatic aberration.

In addition, the diffractive light system for the optical disk of item 83 is characterized in that: the diffracted light of the same order is diffracted light of the first order.

Further, the diffractive optical system for the optical disk of item 84 is characterized in that: the 2 kinds of light sources with different wavelengths correspond to optical discs whose transparent substrates have different thicknesses from each other.

Further, the diffractive light system for the optical disk of item 85 is characterized in that: the wavelength of the light source of the shorter wavelength among the two wavelengths different from each other is not more than 700 nm.

In addition, the diffractive light system for the optical disk of item 86 is characterized in that: the wavelength of the light source of the longer wavelength among the two wavelengths different from each other is not shorter than 600 nm.

Further, the diffractive light system for the optical disk of item 87 is characterized in that: in the diffractive zone lens, the phase function representing the position of the zone includes term coefficients other than the second power of the power series.

In addition, the diffractive light system for the optical disk of item 88 is characterized in that: the light diffractive surface is aspherical.

Further, the diffractive light system for the optical disk of item 89 is characterized in that: for light sources of 2 wavelengths that are different from each other, the diffraction efficiency of diffracted light is greatest at an almost centered wavelength.

In addition, the diffractive light system for the optical disk of item 90 is characterized in that: for light sources of 2 wavelengths different from each other, the diffraction efficiency of diffracted light is maximum at one of the wavelengths.

In addition, the diffractive light system for the optical disk of item 91 is characterized in that: in the diffractive zone lens on the optical surface, the spherical aberration is corrected to a lower value, and in the aspherical surface of the optical surface, the spherical aberration is corrected to a higher value.

In addition, in the diffractive optical system used for the optical disk of item 91, when the objective lens is used for parallel light incidence such as a CD system (for example, with a wavelength of 780nm and a substrate thickness of 1.2mm) and a DVD system (for example, with a wavelength of 650nm and a substrate thickness of 0.6mm), in the CD system, since the thickness of the substrate is thick, spherical aberration has a higher value than that of the DVD system, but since this spherical aberration has been corrected with the wavelength difference of the diffractive lens, the spherical aberration of the diffractive lens is reduced. Incidentally, in this case, in the long wavelength of the CD system, the spherical aberration of the diffraction lens is greatly reduced, and therefore the influence received due to the substrate thickness is corrected. In the aspherical surface, the influence due to the difference in substrate thickness is not corrected, and in the CD system and the DVD system, the spherical aberration is over-corrected to almost the same step. In the above description, it was found that when the higher order terms of diffraction are used, the wave motion of spherical aberration can be largely controlled.

In addition, in the diffraction optical system for the optical disk of item 92, in the light sources having 2 different wavelengths, the difference in wavelength is not less than 80 nm.

In addition, the diffractive light system for the optical disk of item 93 is characterized in that: in an objective optical system of an optical disc, when a diffraction ring lens is disposed on an optical surface, axial chromatic aberration of a certain diffraction ray of the same order is corrected for each of light sources having 2 different wavelengths.

In addition, the diffractive light system for the optical disk of item 94 is characterized in that: the wavelength difference of the light sources having two different wavelengths is not less than 80nm, and the diffraction optical system has a single objective lens which satisfies the following relationship: vd > 50, where vd is the Abbe number of the glass material of the objective lens.

In addition, the diffractive light system for the optical disk of item 95 is characterized in that: in the performance of the lens for two different wavelengths, neither has aberrations large enough to actually use the aperture, and outside of them, the aberrations become dispersed light.

In addition, the diffractive light system for the optical disk in item 96 is characterized in that: in the lens performance for two different wavelengths, when the numerical value of the wavelength having no aberration in the open aperture is defined as NA1 and the numerical aperture of the other wavelength in actual use is defined as NA2, the following relationship is satisfied: NA1 > NA2 > 0.5 × NA 1.

In addition, the diffractive light system for the optical disk in item 97 is characterized in that: the thickness of the optical disc is different for 2 different wavelengths.

Further, the optical head device in item 98 is an optical head device of an optical system for recording and reproducing, the optical system having at least more than 2 light sources having different wavelengths, in which information is recorded on and/or reproduced from an information recording surface of an optical information recording medium using divergent luminous fluxes from each of the light sources via a transparent substrate using the same objective lens, the optical head device in item 98 being characterized in that: the objective lens includes an optical surface in which a ring-like diffractive surface is located on the refractive surface, and a luminous flux transmitted through the objective lens and the transparent substrate has a diffraction limit performance at an optimal image point for at least one light source.

Here, the diffraction limit performance means that wavefront aberration is measured, and the root mean square value (rms value) of wavefront aberration of the entire luminous flux is not more than 0.07 times of Mareshal tolerance wavelength. In addition, the aperture in practical use means that the numerical aperture specified by the corresponding standard of the optical information recording medium can be obtained, and it corresponds to the numerical aperture of the objective lens having the diffraction limit performance of the spot diameter necessary for recording or reproducing the information of the corresponding optical information recording medium.

As described above, since the numerical aperture in actual use is dependent on the optical information recording medium, the numerical aperture on the optical information recording medium side of the actual luminous flux passing through the optical system of the pickup device can be larger than the numerical aperture in actual use.

In addition, in the present invention, preferably, the maximum numerical aperture means the largest one of the numerical apertures in actual use. That is, in the case of a pickup apparatus interchangeably used for a plurality of optical information recording media, a plurality of numerical apertures actually used are determined, and it may be better that the largest one among these numerical apertures is defined as the maximum numerical aperture. In addition, the predetermined numerical aperture and the necessary numerical aperture have the same meaning as the numerical aperture in actual use.

Incidentally, in the case of recording information on an optical information recording medium or reproducing information from an optical information recording medium, when a light source used in an actual optical head device has a wavelength different from that of a light source specified by a standard, the numerical aperture actually used is set so that the ratio of the specified wavelength to the specified numerical aperture and the ratio of the wavelength actually used to the numerical aperture actually used are constant. For example, in a CD, the numerical aperture is 0.45 when a standard 780nm wavelength light source is used, but the numerical aperture is 0.38 when a light source having a wavelength of 650nm is used.

Further, the optical head device in item 99 is an optical head device for an optical system for recording and reproducing, the optical system having at least 2 or more light sources, the 2 light sources having different wavelengths, in which a scattered light flux from each light source is used to record and/or reproduce information to and/or from an information recording surface of an optical information recording medium through a transparent substrate by the same objective lens, the optical head device in item 99 being characterized in that: the objective lens includes an optical surface in which a ringlike diffraction surface is located on the refractive surface, and for at least one light source, a light flux transmitted through the objective lens and the transparent substrate has a diffraction limit characteristic at an optimal image point, and for at least one light source, a light flux up to an aperture in actual use among light fluxes transmitted through the objective lens and the transparent substrate has a diffraction limit characteristic at an optimal image point, and the ringlike diffraction surface is provided so that an outside thereof becomes dispersed light.

Further, the optical pickup device according to item 100 is characterized in that: the device has at least 3 light sources having different wavelengths.

Further, the optical head device according to item 101 is characterized in that: the device comprises a light surface on which at least more than 2 ring-like zone diffraction surfaces are provided.

Further, the optical pickup device according to item 102 is characterized in that: the above-described arrangement comprises a band-like filter in order to shield a part of the light flux outside the actually used aperture from the light flux entering the objective lens.

Further, the optical pickup device according to item 103 is characterized in that: in the above-described apparatus, the unit includes a light source and an objective lens, and the unit is driven at least in parallel with the optical information recording medium.

Further, the optical pickup device according to item 104 is characterized in that: in the above apparatus, the unit includes a light source and an objective lens, and the unit is further driven perpendicularly to the optical information recording medium.

Further, the invention according to item 105 is an audio and/or image recording and/or an audio and/or image reproducing apparatus, characterized in that: the optical head device is installed.

Further, the objective lens in item 106 is an objective lens of an optical system for recording and reproducing, the optical system having at least more than 2 light sources, the 2 light sources having different wavelengths, in which optical system divergent luminous fluxes from each light source are used to record and/or reproduce information onto and/or from an information recording surface of an optical information recording medium through a transparent substrate by the same objective lens, the objective lens being characterized in that: it comprises an optical surface on which an annulus-like diffractive surface is located on a refractive surface, the luminous flux transmitted through the objective lens and the transparent substrate having, for at least one light source, a diffraction-limited characteristic at an optimum image point.

Further, the objective lens in item 107 is an objective lens for a recording and reproducing optical system having at least more than 2 light sources having different wavelengths, in which system divergent luminous fluxes from each light source are used for recording and/or reproducing information to and/or from an optical information recording medium through the same objective lens via a transparent substrate, the objective lens being characterized in that: it comprises an optical surface on which a girdle-like diffraction surface is located on a refractive surface, and for at least one light source, a light flux transmitted through an objective lens and a transparent substrate has a diffraction limit characteristic at an optimum image point, and for at least one light source, among light fluxes transmitted through the objective lens and the transparent substrate, a light flux up to an actually used aperture has a diffraction limit characteristic at an optimum image point, and the girdle-like diffraction surface is provided so that the outside thereof becomes dispersed light.

Further, in the optical head device in item 108, a luminous flux emitted from the light source is condensed onto the information recording surface through the transparent substrate of the optical information recording medium by a light condensing optical system including an objective lens, and the optical head device has a first light source, a second light source, and a third light source, and is used for recording and playing the optical information recording medium; the first light source has a wavelength λ 1 to record/reproduce the first optical information recording medium; the second light source has a wavelength lambda 2 for recording/reproducing the second optical information recording medium; the third light source has lambda 3 to record/reproduce the third optical information recording medium; the wavelengths of these light sources are different from each other; the optical head device is characterized in that: on at least one surface of the objective lens, a diffraction surface for correcting spherical aberration to the same or less degree as a diffraction limit by diffracting light of a certain order for each optical information recording medium is formed.

Further, in the optical head device in item 109, a luminous flux emitted from the light source is condensed onto the information recording surface through the transparent substrate of the optical information recording medium by a light condensing optical system including an objective lens, and the optical head device has a first light source, a second light source, and a third light source, and is used for recording and playing the optical information recording medium; the first light source has a wavelength λ 1 to record/reproduce the first optical information recording medium; the second light source has a wavelength lambda 2 for recording/reproducing the second optical information recording medium; the third light source has lambda 3 to record/reproduce the third optical information recording medium; the wavelengths of these light sources are different from each other; the optical head device is characterized in that: on at least one surface of the objective lens, a diffraction light of a certain order is used for each optical information recording medium, and for at least one optical information recording medium, the aberration up to the actually used aperture is made to be almost on the same order as the diffraction limit or smaller than it, and a part of the aberration outside the aperture is made to be a dispersion light.

In the optical head device in item 109 for recording and/or reproducing optical information recording media, for each optical information recording medium, a diffraction plane formed by an objective lens uses a certain diffraction ray of the same order, for at least one optical information recording medium, the aberration up to the aperture actually used is made almost at the same step as the diffraction limit or smaller than it, and the aberration of the portion outside the aperture is made to be a dispersion light.

Further, as will be described in the following items, it is preferable that diffraction surfaces are formed on both surfaces of the objective lens, and the diffracted light is first-order diffracted light. The following features are provided: the diffraction surface forms an annular zone-like shape around the optical axis of the objective lens, and the phase function used to represent the position of the annular zone includes term coefficients other than the 2 nd power term of the power series, but the phase function may or may not include the second power term of the power series. In addition, in the diffraction plane, the diffraction efficiency of the diffracted light is preferably the largest at the wavelengths at both ends or at the wavelength in the middle region for each of the first light source, the second light source, and the third light source. In addition, the objective lens has at least one surface that is aspherical, and spherical aberration on the diffraction surface is corrected to be reduced, while spherical aberration on the aspherical surface is corrected to be increased, and thus the above-described function can be provided.

Further, the optical pickup device according to item 110 is characterized in that: diffraction surfaces are formed on both surfaces of the objective lens.

Further, the optical pickup device according to item 111 is characterized in that: the same order diffracted light is the first order diffracted light.

Further, the optical pickup device according to item 112 is characterized in that: the diffraction surface forms an annular-like band around the optical axis of the objective lens, and the phase function representing the position of the annular band includes coefficients of terms other than the second-order terms of the power series.

Further, the optical head device according to item 113 is characterized in that: the diffraction surface forms an annular band-like shape around the optical axis of the objective lens, and the phase function representing the position of the annular band includes second-order power coefficients of a power series.

Further, the optical pickup device according to item 114 is characterized in that: the diffraction forming surface is in the shape of a ring-like zone around the optical axis of the objective lens, and the phase function representing the position of the ring zone does not include coefficients of second-order terms of a power division series.

Further, the optical pickup device according to item 115 is characterized in that: for each of the first light source, the second light source, and the third light source, the diffraction efficiency of the diffracted light is greatest at the wavelengths of both ends or in the middle region.

Further, the optical pickup device according to item 116 is characterized in that: at least one surface of the objective lens is aspherical, and spherical aberration on the diffraction surface is corrected to be small, while spherical aberration on the aspherical surface is corrected to be large.

Further, the invention in item 117 is an audio and/or image writing and/or audio and/or image reproducing apparatus, characterized in that: an optical head device having the first light source, the second light source and the third light source described in any one of items 108 and 116 is installed.

Further, the objective lens in item 118 is used for an optical head device in which a luminous flux emitted from a light source is condensed onto an information recording surface via a transparent substrate of an optical information recording medium by a light condensing optical system, and in which a first light source, a second light source, and a third light source are provided and the optical information recording medium is recorded and played back; the first light source has a wavelength λ 1 to record/reproduce the first optical information recording medium; the second light source has a wavelength lambda 2 for recording/reproducing the second optical information recording medium; the third light source has lambda 3 to record/reproduce the third optical information recording medium; the wavelengths of these light sources are different from each other; the objective lens is characterized in that: on at least one surface of the objective lens, a diffraction surface is formed in which spherical aberration is corrected using diffracted light of the same order for each type of optical information recording medium to be in the same order as or smaller than the diffraction limit.

Further, the objective lens in item 119 is used for an optical head device in which a luminous flux emitted from a light source is condensed onto an information recording surface via a transparent substrate of an optical information recording medium by a light condensing optical system, and in which a first light source, a second light source, and a third light source are provided and the optical information recording medium is recorded and played back; the first light source has a wavelength λ 1 to record/reproduce the first optical information recording medium; the second light source has a wavelength lambda 2 for recording/reproducing the second optical information recording medium; the third light source has lambda 3 to record/reproduce the third optical information recording medium; the wavelengths of these light sources are different from each other; the objective lens is characterized in that: on at least one surface of the objective lens, for each optical information recording medium, a certain same-order diffracted light is used, and for at least one optical information recording medium, and for spherical aberration, the aberration is corrected until the actually used aperture reaches almost the same step as the diffraction limit or smaller than it, and for a portion outside the aperture, the aberration becomes a dispersed light.

Further, in the optical head device in item 120, a luminous flux emitted from a light source is condensed onto an information recording surface via a transparent substrate of an optical information recording medium by a light condensing optical system, and in the optical head device, there are a first light source, a second light source, and a third light source, and the optical information recording medium is recorded and played; the first light source has a wavelength λ 1 to record/reproduce the first optical information recording medium; the second light source has a wavelength lambda 2 for recording/reproducing the second optical information recording medium; the third light source has lambda 3 to record/reproduce the third optical information recording medium; the wavelengths of these light sources are different from each other; the optical head is characterized in that: a diffraction surface is formed on at least one surface of the light converging system, and spherical aberration is corrected using a certain diffraction ray of the same order for each type of optical information recording medium to be in the same order as or smaller than the diffraction limit.

Further, in the optical head device in item 121, a light flux emitted from a light source is condensed onto an information recording surface via a transparent substrate of an optical information recording medium by a light condensing optical system, and in the optical head device, there are a first light source, a second light source, and a third light source, and the optical information recording medium is recorded and played; the first light source has a wavelength λ 1 to record/reproduce the first optical information recording medium; the second light source has a wavelength lambda 2 for recording/reproducing the second optical information recording medium; the third light source has lambda 3 to record/reproduce the third optical information recording medium; the wavelengths of these light sources are different from each other; the optical head is characterized in that: a diffraction surface is provided on at least one surface of the light converging optical system, in which a certain diffraction ray of the same order is used for each type of optical information recording medium, and for at least one type of optical information recording medium, until the aperture actually used, the aberration is corrected to be almost at the same step as or smaller than the diffraction limit, and for a portion outside the aperture, the aberration becomes a dispersed light.

Further, the optical pickup device according to item 122 further includes: a first light source having a wavelength λ 1, a second light source having a wavelength λ 2(λ 2 ≠ λ 1); an objective lens having a diffraction pattern on at least one surface thereof, which converges light fluxes from the respective light sources onto an information recording surface of the optical information recording medium via the transparent substrate; and a photodetector for receiving reflected light of the emitted light fluxes from the first light source and the second light source of the optical information recording medium, wherein the first optical information recording medium having a transparent substrate with a thickness of t1 is recorded and/or reproduced when at least m-th order diffracted light (m is a non-zero integer) of the diffraction pattern of the objective lens using the light flux from the first light source, and the second optical information recording medium having a thickness of t2(t2 ≠ t1) is recorded and/or reproduced when at least n-th order diffracted light (n ≠ m) of the diffraction pattern of the objective lens using the light flux from the first light source.

Further, the optical head device according to item 123 is an optical head device for use in a relationship such that the wavelengths λ 1 and λ 2 of the first and second light sources have a relationship of λ 1 < λ 2, and the thicknesses of the transparent substrates t1 and t2 have a relationship of t1 < t2, the optical head device being characterized in that the m-order and n-order diffracted lights are both + 1-order diffracted lights.

Further, the optical head device in item 124 is an optical head device for an optical head device having a relationship that the wavelengths λ 1 and λ 2 of the first and second light sources are λ 1 < λ 2, and the thicknesses of the transparent substrates t1 and t2 are t1 > t2, characterized in that the m-order and n-order diffracted lights are both-1-order diffracted lights.

Further, the optical pickup device according to item 125 is characterized in that: in the apparatus in item 122, when recording and/or reproducing is performed on a first optical information recording medium having a thickness t1 of a transparent substrate by a first light source having a wavelength λ 1, a required numerical aperture on the optical information recording medium side of a desired objective lens is defined as NA1, when recording and/or reproducing is performed on a second optical information recording medium having a thickness t2(t2 > t1) of a transparent substrate by a second light source having a wavelength λ 2(λ 2 > λ 1), a required numerical aperture on the optical information recording medium side of a desired objective lens is defined as NA2(NA2 < NA1), a diffraction pattern on at least one surface of the objective lens is rotationally symmetric to an optical axis, and a +1 diffracted light of a light flux from the first light source in an environment separated farthest from the optical axis of the diffraction pattern of the objective lens is condensed as a light flux whose numerical aperture on the recording medium side is H1, the +1 st order diffracted light of the luminous flux from the first light source in the environment closest to the optical axis side of the diffraction pattern of the objective lens is condensed as a luminous flux having a numerical aperture NAL1 on the side of the optical information recording medium, and the following relationship is satisfied:

NAH1＜NA1，0≤NAL1≤NA2。

Further, the optical pickup device according to item 126 is characterized in that: in the apparatus in item 122, when recording and/or reproducing the first optical information recording medium having a thickness t1 of the transparent substrate by the first light source having a wavelength λ 1, a necessary numerical aperture on the optical information recording medium side of the objective lens required is defined as NA1, when recording and/or reproducing the second optical information recording medium having a thickness t2(t2 > t1) of the transparent substrate by the second light source having a wavelength λ 2(λ 2 > λ 1), a necessary numerical aperture on the optical information recording medium side of the objective lens is defined as NA2(NA2 > NA1), the diffraction pattern provided on at least one face of the objective lens is rotationally symmetric to the optical axis, the +1 order diffraction ray of the light flux from the first light source in the environment farthest from the optical axis of the diffraction pattern of the objective lens is condensed as a light flux whose numerical aperture on the optical information recording medium side is H1, the +1 st order diffracted light of the luminous flux from the first light source in the environment closest to the optical axis side of the diffraction pattern of the objective lens is condensed as a luminous flux having a numerical aperture NAL1 on the side of the optical information recording medium, and the following relationship is satisfied:

NAH1＜NA2，0≤NAL1≤NA1。

Further, the optical pickup device according to item 127 is characterized in that: in the apparatus in item 122, when recording and/or reproducing the first optical information recording medium having a thickness t1 of the transparent substrate by the first light source having a wavelength λ 1, a necessary numerical aperture on the optical information recording medium side of the objective lens as required is defined as NA1, when recording and/or reproducing the second optical information recording medium having a thickness t2(t2 < t1) of the transparent substrate by the second light source having a wavelength λ 2(λ 2 > λ 1), a necessary numerical aperture on the optical information recording medium side of the objective lens as mentioned is defined as NA2(NA2 < NA1), the diffraction pattern provided on at least one face of the objective lens is rotationally symmetric to the optical axis, and-1 st order diffracted light of light fluxes from the first light source in an environment farthest from the optical axis of the diffraction pattern of the objective lens is condensed as one light flux, the numerical aperture on the optical information recording medium side is NAH1, the-1 st order diffracted light of the luminous flux from the first light source is converged into the luminous flux from the environment nearest to the optical axis side of the diffraction pattern of the objective lens, the numerical aperture on the optical information recording medium side is NAL1, and the following relations are satisfied:

NAH1＜NA1，0≤NAL1≤NA2。

Further, the optical pickup device according to item 128 is characterized in that: in the apparatus in item 122, when recording and/or reproducing the first optical information recording medium having a thickness t1 of the transparent substrate by the first light source having a wavelength λ 1, a necessary numerical aperture on the side of the optical information recording medium of the objective lens is defined as NA1, when recording and/or reproducing the second optical information recording medium having a thickness t2(t2 < t1) of the transparent substrate by the second light source having a wavelength λ 2(λ 2 > λ 1), a necessary numerical aperture on the side of the optical information recording medium of the objective lens is defined as NA2(NA2 > NA1), the diffraction pattern provided on at least one face of the objective lens is rotationally symmetric to the optical axis, and the-1 st order diffracted light of the light flux from the first light source in an environment separated farthest from the optical axis of the diffraction pattern of the objective lens is converged into one light flux having a numerical aperture on the side of the optical information recording medium of H1, the-1 st order diffracted light of the luminous flux from the first light source in the environment closest to the optical axis side of the diffraction pattern of the objective lens is condensed into the luminous flux, the numerical aperture thereof on the side of the optical information recording medium is NAL1, and the following relationship is satisfied:

NAH1＜NA2，0≤NAL1≤NA1。

Further, the optical head device according to item 129 is characterized in that: in the device in item 125, a light converging position of the light flux not passing through the diffraction pattern is almost the same as a light converging position of the light flux passing through the diffraction pattern within the light flux from the first light source, and a numerical aperture of the light flux not passing through the diffraction pattern is not larger than NA1 when the light flux passes through the objective lens.

Further, the optical pickup device according to item 130 is characterized in that: in the device in item 126, a light converging position of the light flux not passing through the diffraction pattern is almost the same as a light converging position of the light flux passing through the diffraction pattern in the light flux from the second light source, and a numerical aperture of the light flux not passing through the diffraction pattern is not larger than NA2 when the light flux passes through the objective lens.

Further, the optical head device according to item 131 is characterized in that: in the device in item 127, in the light flux from the first light source, a light condensing position of the light flux not passing through the diffraction pattern is almost the same as a light condensing position of the light flux passing through the diffraction pattern, and a numerical aperture of the light flux not passing through the diffraction pattern is not larger than NA1 when the light flux passes through the objective lens.

Further, the optical pickup device according to item 132 is characterized in that: in the device in item 128, a light converging position of the light flux not passing through the diffraction pattern is almost the same as a light converging position of the light flux passing through the diffraction pattern in the light flux from the second light source, and a numerical aperture of the light flux not passing through the diffraction pattern is not larger than NA2 when the light flux passes through the objective lens.

Further, the optical pickup device according to item 133 is characterized in that: in the apparatus in item 129, the +1 st order diffracted light of the light flux from the second light source in the environment farthest from the optical axis of the diffraction pattern of the objective lens is condensed into a light flux having a numerical aperture NAH2 on the side of the optical information recording medium, the +1 st order diffracted light of the light flux from the second light source in the environment closest to the optical axis of the diffraction pattern of the objective lens is condensed into a light flux having a numerical aperture NAL2 on the side of the optical information recording medium, spherical aberration of the light flux passing through the objective lens is set so that, of the light flux from the first light source, a light flux having a numerical aperture not larger than NA1 when the light flux passes through the objective lens is used and a spot is condensed onto the information recording surface of the optical information recording medium, so that recording and/or reproducing of the first optical information recording medium can be carried out, of the light flux from the second light source, recording and/or reproduction of the second optical information recording medium can be carried out using a luminous flux whose numerical aperture is not larger than NAH2 when the luminous flux passes through the objective lens, and the optical spot is condensed on the information recording surface of the optical information recording medium.

Further, the optical pickup device according to item 134 is characterized in that: in the apparatus in item 130, the +1 st order diffracted light of the light flux from the second light source in the environment farthest from the optical axis of the diffraction pattern of the objective lens is condensed into a light flux having a numerical aperture NAH2 on the optical information recording medium side, the +1 st order diffracted light of the light flux from the second light source in the environment closest to the optical axis of the diffraction pattern of the objective lens is condensed into a light flux having a numerical aperture NAL2 on the optical information recording medium side, spherical aberration of the light flux passing through the objective lens is set so that, of the light flux from the first light source, the light flux having a numerical aperture not larger than NAH1 when the light flux passes through the objective lens is used, and the spot is condensed onto the information recording surface of the optical information recording medium, so that recording and/or reproducing of the first optical information recording medium can be carried out, of the light flux from the second light source, recording and/or reproduction of the second optical information recording medium can be carried out using a light flux having a numerical aperture not greater than NA2 when the light flux passes through the objective lens, and the light spot is condensed on the information recording surface of the optical information recording medium.

Further, the optical pickup device according to item 135 is characterized in that: in the apparatus in item 131, the-1 st order diffracted light of the light flux from the second light source in the environment farthest from the optical axis of the diffraction pattern of the objective lens is condensed into a light flux having a numerical aperture NAH2 on the optical information recording medium side, the-1 st order diffracted light of the light flux from the second light source in the environment closest to the optical axis of the diffraction pattern of the objective lens is condensed into a light flux having a numerical aperture NAL2 on the optical information recording medium side, spherical aberration of the light flux passing through the objective lens is set so that, of the light flux from the first light source, a light flux having a numerical aperture not larger than NA1 when the light flux passes through the objective lens is used, and the spot is condensed onto the information recording surface of the optical information recording medium, so that recording and/or reproducing of the first optical information recording medium can be carried out, of the light flux from the second light source, recording and/or reproduction of the second optical information recording medium can be carried out using a luminous flux whose numerical aperture is not larger than NAH2 when the luminous flux passes through the objective lens, and the optical spot is condensed on the information recording surface of the optical information recording medium.

Further, the optical pickup device according to item 136 is characterized in that: in the apparatus in item 132, the-1 st order diffracted light of the light flux from the second light source in the environment farthest from the optical axis of the diffraction pattern of the objective lens is condensed into a light flux having a numerical aperture NAH2 on the side of the optical information recording medium, the-1 st order diffracted light of the light flux from the second light source in the environment closest to the optical axis of the diffraction pattern of the objective lens is condensed into a light flux having a numerical aperture NAL2 on the side of the optical information recording medium, the spherical aberration of the light flux passing through the objective lens is set so that, of the light flux from the first light source, the light flux having a numerical aperture not larger than NAH1 when the light flux passes through the objective lens is used, and the spot is condensed onto the information recording surface of the optical information recording medium, so that recording and/or reproducing of the first optical information recording medium can be carried out, of the light flux from the second light source, recording and/or reproduction of the second optical information recording medium can be carried out using a luminous flux whose numerical aperture is not larger than NA2 when the luminous flux passes through the objective lens, and the light spot is condensed on the information recording surface of the optical information recording medium.

Further, the optical head device according to item 137 is characterized in that: in the apparatus in item 133, in the light flux from the first light source, at the best image point through the transparent substrate of the first optical information recording medium, a wavefront aberration whose numerical aperture is not more than NA1 at the time of the light flux passing through the objective lens is not more than 0.07 λ rms, and in the light flux from the second light source, at the best image point through the transparent substrate of the second optical information recording medium, a wavefront aberration whose numerical aperture is not more than NAH2 at the time of the light flux passing through the objective lens is not more than 0.07 λ rms.

Further, the optical pickup device according to item 138 is characterized in that: in the device in item 134, in the light flux from the first light source, at the best image point through the transparent substrate of the first optical information recording medium, a wavefront aberration whose numerical aperture is not more than that of NAH1 when the light flux passes through the objective lens is not more than 0.07 λ rms, and in the light flux from the second light source, at the best image point through the transparent substrate of the second optical information recording medium, a wavefront aberration whose numerical aperture is not more than that of NA2 when the light flux passes through the objective lens is not more than 0.07 λ rms.

Further, the optical head device in item 139 is characterized in that: in the apparatus in item 135, in the light flux from the first light source, at the best image point through the transparent substrate of the first optical information recording medium, a wavefront aberration whose numerical aperture is not more than NA1 at the time of the light flux passing through the objective lens is not more than 0.07 λ rms, and in the light flux from the second light source, at the best image point through the transparent substrate of the second optical information recording medium, a wavefront aberration whose numerical aperture is not more than NAH2 at the time of the light flux passing through the objective lens is not more than 0.07 λ rms.

Further, the optical pickup device according to item 140 is characterized in that: in the device in item 136, in the light flux from the first light source, at the best image point through the transparent substrate of the first optical information recording medium, a wavefront aberration whose numerical aperture is not more than that of NAH1 when the light flux passes through the objective lens is not more than 0.07 λ rms, and in the light flux from the second light source, at the best image point through the transparent substrate of the second optical information recording medium, a wavefront aberration whose numerical aperture is not more than that of NA2 when the light flux passes through the objective lens is not more than 0.07 λ rms.

Further, the optical head device according to item 141 is characterized in that: in the device as in any one of

items

122 and 140, at least one collimator is included between the first light source and the objective lens and between the second light source and the objective lens, and the light flux from the first light source entering the objective lens and the light flux from the second light source entering the objective lens are parallel light, respectively.

Further, the optical pickup device according to item 142 is characterized in that: in the device in item 141, a paraxial focal position for the light flux from the first light source and a paraxial focal position for the light flux from the second light source are almost coincident.

Further, the optical pickup device according to item 143 is characterized in that: in the device in items 129, 133 and 137, a second diffraction pattern is provided outside the diffraction pattern, the second diffraction pattern being arranged such that for the light flux from the first light source, the +1 st order diffracted light of the second diffraction pattern is condensed on the light condensing position, and the light flux from the second light source is not diffracted by the second diffraction pattern.

Further, the optical pickup device according to item 144 is characterized in that: in the devices in items 130, 134, and 138, the second diffraction pattern is provided outside the diffraction pattern, and is disposed such that the light flux from the first light source is mainly +1 st order diffracted light in the second diffraction pattern, and the light flux from the second light source is transmitted through the second diffraction pattern and condensed to the light condensing position.

Further, the optical pickup device according to item 145 is characterized in that: in the device in items 131, 135, and 139, the second diffraction pattern is provided outside the diffraction pattern, and the second diffraction pattern is arranged such that-1 st order diffracted light in the second diffraction pattern is condensed to a light condensing position for light flux from the first light source, and the second diffraction pattern does not diffract light flux from the second light source.

Further, the optical pickup device according to item 146 is characterized in that: in the devices in

items

132, 136 and 140, the second diffraction pattern is provided outside the diffraction pattern, the second diffraction pattern being arranged such that the light flux from the first light source is mainly-1 st order diffracted light in the second diffraction pattern, and the light flux from the second light source is transmitted through the second diffraction pattern and condensed to the light condensing position.

Further, the optical head device according to item 147 is characterized in that: in the device in items 129, 133 and 137, the second diffraction pattern is provided outside the diffraction pattern, and the second diffraction pattern is disposed such that the transmitted light of the second diffraction pattern is condensed to the light condensing position for the light flux from the first light source, which is a major part of the-1 st order diffracted light in the second diffraction pattern.

Further, the optical pickup device according to item 148 is characterized in that: in the device in items 130, 134, and 138, the second diffraction pattern is provided outside the diffraction pattern, and is disposed such that the light flux from the first light source passes through the second diffraction pattern, and the light flux from the second diffraction pattern is mainly diffracted as-1 order light in the second diffraction pattern, and is condensed to the condensing position.

Further, the optical pickup device according to item 149 is characterized in that: in the device in items 131, 135, and 139, the second diffraction pattern is provided outside the diffraction pattern, the second diffraction pattern being arranged such that, for the light flux from the first light source, the light transmitted by the second diffraction pattern is condensed onto the light condensing position, and the light flux from the second light source becomes mainly +1 st order diffracted light in the second diffraction pattern.

Further, the optical pickup device according to item 150 is characterized in that: in the devices in

items

132, 136 and 140, the second diffraction pattern is provided outside the diffraction pattern, and the second diffraction pattern is arranged such that the light flux from the first light source passes through the second diffraction pattern, and the light flux from the second diffraction pattern is mainly diffracted light of +1 order in the second diffraction pattern, and is condensed to the light condensing position.

Further, the optical head device according to item 151 is characterized in that: in the device in item 129, 131, 133, 135, 137 or 139, the device includes a light combining device with which a luminous flux emitted by the first light source and a luminous flux emitted by the second light source can be formed and an aperture limiting device with which a luminous flux from the first light source can be transmitted, and in the luminous flux from the second light source, the aperture limiting device does not transmit a luminous flux passing through a region on the opposite side of an optical axis of the diffraction pattern between the light combining device and the optical information recording medium.

Further, the optical head device according to item 151 is characterized in that: in the device in item 129, 131, 133, 135, 137 or 139, the device includes a light combining device with which a luminous flux emitted by the first light source and a luminous flux emitted by the second light source can be formed, and an aperture limiting device with which a luminous flux from the second light source can be transmitted, and in the luminous flux from the first light source, the aperture limiting device does not transmit a luminous flux passing through a region on the opposite side of an optical axis of the diffraction pattern between the light combining device and the optical information recording medium.

Further, the optical pickup device according to item 153 is characterized in that: in the device in item 151, the opening degree limiting means is a ring band filter that transmits the light flux from the first light source, and in the light flux from the second light source, the ring band filter reflects or absorbs the light flux passing through a region on the opposite side of the optical axis of the diffraction pattern.

Further, the optical pickup device according to item 154 is characterized in that: in the device in item 152, the opening degree limiting means is a ring band filter that transmits the light flux from the second light source, and in the light flux from the first light source, the ring band filter reflects or absorbs the light flux passing through a region on the opposite side of the optical axis of the diffraction pattern.

Further, the optical pickup device in item 155 is characterized in that: in the device in item 151, the opening degree limiting means is a ring band filter that transmits the light flux from the first light source, and in the light flux from the second light source, the ring band filter diffracts the light flux passing through a region on the opposite side of the optical axis of the diffraction pattern.

Further, the optical pickup device in item 156 is characterized in that: in the device in item 152, the opening degree limiting means is a ring-shaped filter that transmits the light flux from the second light source, and the ring-shaped filter diffracts the light flux passing through a region on the opposite side of the optical axis of the diffraction pattern within the light flux from the first light source.

Further, the optical pickup device according to item 157, wherein: in the device of any of items 122-156, the light detector is common to the first light source and the second light source.

Further, the optical pickup device according to item 158 is characterized in that: in the device of any of items 122-156, the light detectors have a first light detector for the first light source and a second light detector for the second light source, respectively, which are spatially separated.

Further, the optical head device in item 159 is characterized in that: in the apparatus of item 158, at least one pair of the first light source and the first light detector or the second light source and the second light detector form a unit.

Further, the optical pickup device according to item 160 is characterized in that: in the apparatus of item 157, the first light source, the second light source, and a common light detector (a single light detector) comprise a single unit.

Further, the optical head device in item 161 is characterized in that: in the device in item 158, among the photodetectors, a first photodetector of the first light source and a second photodetector of the second light source are provided separately, and the first light source, the second light source, the first photodetector and the second photodetector constitute one unit.

Further, the optical head device in item 162 is characterized in that: in the apparatus in any of items 122-161, there is further provided a light detector for detecting light from the optical disc.

Further, the optical head device in item 163 includes: a first light source with a wavelength of λ 1, a second light source with a wavelength of λ 2(λ 1 ≠ λ 2); wave composing means operable to compose the emitted luminous flux from the first light source and the emitted luminous flux from the second light source; a diffractive optical element having a diffraction pattern on at least one surface; objective lenses which respectively converge light fluxes from the respective light sources onto information recording surfaces of the optical information recording media through the transparent substrates; a photodetector that receives light of reflected light fluxes from the first light source and the second light source reflected from the optical information recording medium, the optical head device being characterized in that: since at least m-order diffracted light (where m is an integer other than zero) of the diffraction pattern of the objective lens is used for the light flux from the first light source, the first optical information recording medium having a transparent substrate thickness of t1 is recorded and/or reproduced, and at least n-order diffracted light (where n is m) of the diffraction pattern of the objective lens is used for the light flux from the second light source, the second optical information recording medium having a transparent substrate thickness of t2(t2 ≠ t1) is recorded and/or reproduced.

Further, the optical pickup device according to item 164 is characterized in that: in the device in item 163, the optical head device is used in the relationship that the first light source and the second light source have the wavelengths λ 1 and λ 2 in the relationship of λ 1 < λ 2, the thicknesses t1 and t2 of the transparent substrate in the relationship of t1 < t2, and both the m-order and n-order diffracted lights are + 1-order diffracted lights.

Further, the optical pickup device according to item 165 is characterized in that: in the device in item 163, the optical head device is used in the relationship that the first light source and the second light source have the wavelengths λ 1 and λ 2 in the relationship of λ 1 < λ 2, the thicknesses t1 and t2 of the transparent substrate in the relationship of t1 > t2, and the m-order and n-order diffracted lights are both-1-order diffracted lights.

Further, the optical pickup device according to item 166 is characterized in that: in the devices of items 163, 164 and 165, the diffractive optical element and the objective lens are integrally driven.

Further, the optical pickup device according to item 167, wherein: in the device in item 122-166, the depth of the first diffraction pattern in the optical axis direction is not more than 2 μm.

Further, the objective lens for the optical head device in item 168 is characterized in that: having a diffraction pattern on at least one surface thereof, at least m-order diffracted light (where m is a non-zero integer) from the diffraction pattern being condensed at a first light-condensing position when a light flux having a wavelength of λ 1 is incident, and at least n-order diffracted light (where n ═ m) from the diffraction pattern being condensed at a second light-condensing position different from the first light-condensing position when a light flux having a wavelength of λ 2 is incident.

Further, the objective lens for the optical head device in item 169 is characterized in that: when the wavelengths λ 1 and λ 2 are λ 1 < λ 2, the first light converging position is a light converging position for the first optical information recording medium having a transparent substrate thickness of t1, the second light converging position is a light converging position for the second optical information recording medium having a transparent substrate thickness of t2, the thicknesses t1 and t2 of the transparent substrate are t1 < t2, and both the m-order and n-order diffracted lights are + 1-order diffracted lights.

Further, the objective lens for the optical head device in item 170 is characterized in that: when the wavelengths λ 1 and λ 2 are λ 1 < λ 2, the first light converging position is a light converging position for the first optical information recording medium having a transparent substrate thickness of t1, the second light converging position is a light converging position for the second optical information recording medium having a transparent substrate thickness of t2, the thicknesses t1 and t2 of the transparent substrate are t1 > t2, and both the m-order and n-order diffracted lights are-1-order diffracted lights.

Further, an objective lens for an optical head device in item 171 is characterized in that: and a diffraction pattern on at least one surface thereof, at least m-order diffracted light (where m is a non-zero integer) from the diffraction pattern having a light converging position for performing recording and/or reproduction on a first optical information recording medium having a transparent substrate thickness of t1 when a light flux having a wavelength of λ 1 is incident, and at least n-order diffracted light (where n ═ m) from the diffraction pattern having a light converging position for performing recording and/or reproduction on a second optical information recording medium having a transparent substrate thickness of t2 (here, t2 ≠ t1) when a light flux having a wavelength of λ 2 (where λ 2 ≠ λ 1) is incident.

Further, the objective lens for the optical head device in item 172 is characterized in that: in the objective lens in item 171, when the wavelengths λ 1, λ 2 are λ 1 < λ 2, and the thicknesses t1, t2 of the transparent substrate are t1 < t2, both the m-order and n-order diffracted lights are + 1-order diffracted lights.

Further, the objective lens for the optical head device in item 173 is characterized in that: in the objective lens in item 171, when the wavelengths λ 1, λ 2 are λ 1 < λ 2, and the thicknesses t1, t2 of the transparent substrate are t1 > t2, both the m-order and n-order diffracted lights are the-1 st-order diffracted lights.

Further, the objective lens for the optical head device in item 174 is characterized in that: in the objective lens of item 172, when recording and/or reproducing is performed on the first optical information recording medium having the transparent substrate thickness of t1 by the first light source having the wavelength λ 1, the required numerical aperture on the optical information recording medium side of the objective lens is NA1, when recording and/or reproducing is performed on the second optical information recording medium having the transparent substrate thickness of t2(t2 > t1) by the second light source having the wavelength λ 2(λ 2 > λ 1), the required numerical aperture on the optical information recording medium side of the objective lens is NA2(NA2 < NA1), the diffraction pattern on at least one surface of the objective lens is rotationally symmetric to the optical axis, the +1 order diffracted light flux from the first light source in the environment farthest from the optical axis of the diffraction pattern of the objective lens is converged to the light flux having the numerical aperture NAH1 on the optical information recording medium side, the +1 order diffracted light flux from the first light source in the environment closest to the optical axis of the diffraction pattern of the objective lens is converged to the light flux of the objective lens Light is condensed to a luminous flux whose numerical aperture is NAL1 on the side of the optical information recording medium, and the following condition is satisfied: NAH1 is more than NA1, and NAL1 is more than or equal to 0 and less than or equal to NA 2.

Further, the objective lens for the optical head device in item 175 is characterized in that: in the objective lens of item 172, when recording and/or reproducing is performed on the first optical information recording medium having the transparent substrate thickness of t1 by the first light source having the wavelength λ 1, the required numerical aperture on the optical information recording medium side of the objective lens is NA1, when recording and/or reproducing is performed on the second optical information recording medium having the transparent substrate thickness of t2(t2 > t1) by the second light source having the wavelength λ 2(λ 2 > λ 1), the required numerical aperture on the optical information recording medium side of the objective lens is NA2(NA2 > NA1), the diffraction pattern on at least one surface of the objective lens is rotationally symmetric to the optical axis, the +1 order diffracted light flux from the first light source in the environment farthest from the optical axis of the diffraction pattern of the objective lens is converged to the light flux having the numerical aperture NAH1 on the optical information recording medium side, the +1 order diffracted light flux from the first light source in the environment closest to the optical axis of the diffraction pattern of the objective lens is converged to the light flux of the first light source Light is condensed to a luminous flux whose numerical aperture is NAL1 on the side of the optical information recording medium, and the following condition is satisfied: NAH1 is more than NA2, and NAL1 is more than or equal to 0 and less than or equal to NA 1.

Further, an objective lens for an optical head device in item 176 is characterized in that: in the objective lens of item 173, when recording and/or reproducing is performed on a first optical information recording medium having a transparent substrate thickness of t1 by a first light source having a wavelength of λ 1, a required numerical aperture on the optical information recording medium side of the objective lens is NA1, when recording and/or reproducing is performed on a second optical information recording medium having a transparent substrate thickness of t2(t2 > t1) by a second light source having a wavelength of λ 2(λ 2 > λ 1), a required numerical aperture on the optical information recording medium side of the objective lens is NA2(NA2 < NA1), the diffraction pattern on at least one surface of the objective lens is rotationally symmetric with respect to the optical axis, and-1 st order diffracted light from a light flux from the first light source in an environment farthest from the optical axis of the diffraction pattern of the objective lens is converged to a light flux having a numerical aperture NAH1 on the optical information recording medium side, the-1 st order diffracted light of the luminous flux from the first light source from the environment closest to the optical axis of the diffraction pattern of the objective lens is condensed to one luminous flux whose numerical aperture is NAL1 on the side of the optical information recording medium, and the following condition is satisfied: NAH1 is more than NA1, and NAL1 is more than or equal to 0 and less than or equal to NA 2.

Further, the objective lens for the optical head device in item 177 is characterized in that: in the objective lens of item 173, when recording and/or reproducing is performed on a first optical information recording medium having a transparent substrate thickness of t1 by a first light source having a wavelength of λ 1, a required numerical aperture on the optical information recording medium side of the objective lens is NA1, when recording and/or reproducing is performed on a second optical information recording medium having a transparent substrate thickness of t2(t2 < t1) by a second light source having a wavelength of λ 2(λ 2 > λ 1), a required numerical aperture on the optical information recording medium side of the objective lens is NA2(NA2 > NA1), the diffraction pattern on at least one surface of the objective lens is rotationally symmetric with respect to the optical axis, and-1 st order diffracted light from a light flux from the first light source in an environment farthest from the optical axis of the diffraction pattern of the objective lens is converged to a light flux having a numerical aperture NAH1 on the optical information recording medium side, the-1 st order diffracted light of the luminous flux from the first light source from the environment closest to the optical axis of the diffraction pattern of the objective lens is condensed to one luminous flux whose numerical aperture is NAL1 on the side of the optical information recording medium, and the following condition is satisfied: NAH1 is more than NA2, and NAL1 is more than or equal to 0 and less than or equal to NA 1.

Further, the objective lens for the optical head device in item 178 is characterized in that: in the objective lens of any one of items 168 and 177, the optical surface includes a diffraction pattern portion and a refraction portion, and a boundary between the diffraction portion and the refraction portion includes a height difference of not less than 5 μm.

Further, the objective lens for the optical head device in item 179 is characterized in that: in any of the items 168-177, the average depth of the diffraction pattern of the diffraction portion closest to the optical axis side is not more than 2 μm.

Further, the objective lens for the optical head device in item 180 is characterized in that: the objective lens in item 179, an average depth of diffraction patterns of diffraction sections closest to the optical axis side is not more than 2 μm, and an average depth of diffraction patterns of diffraction sections farthest from the optical axis side is not less than 2 μm.

Further, the objective lens for the optical head device in item 181 is characterized in that: in the objective lens of any one of items 168-180, the diffraction pattern of the optical surface includes an optical axis portion.

Further, the objective lens for the optical head device in item 182 is characterized in that: in the objective lens in any one of items 168-180, the optical axis portion of the optical surface has no diffraction pattern, and it is a refractive surface.

Further, the objective lens for the optical head device in item 183 is characterized in that: the objective lens in item 168, 169, 171, 172 or 174, which has a diffraction limit characteristic of up to a numerical aperture of at least 0.6 when an image is formed on an information recording surface through a transparent substrate having a thickness of 0.6mm at a predetermined imaging magnification at a wavelength of a light source of 650nm, and which has a diffraction limit characteristic of up to at least 0.45 when an image is formed on an information recording surface through a transparent substrate having a thickness of 1.2mm at a predetermined imaging magnification at a wavelength of a light source of 780 nm.

Further, the objective lens for the optical head device in item 184 is characterized in that: in the objective lens in item 183, the number of steps of the diffraction pattern is not more than 15.

Further, the objective lens for an optical head device in item 185 is characterized in that: in the objective lens in any one of items 168-184, the optical surface provided with the diffraction pattern is a convex surface.

Further, the objective lens for the optical head device in item 186 is characterized in that: in the objective lens of item 185, a refractive portion of the optical surface provided with the diffraction pattern is an aspherical surface.

Further, an objective lens for an optical head device in item 187 is characterized in that: in the objective lens of item 186, the diffraction pattern includes at least one aspheric refractive component.

Further, an objective lens for an optical head device in item 188 is characterized in that: in the objective lens of any one of items 168-187, the objective lens is a single lens.

Further, an objective lens for an optical head device in item 189 is characterized in that: in the objective lens in item 188, the diffraction pattern is provided on only one optical surface of a single lens.

Further, the objective lens for an optical head device in item 185 is characterized in that: in the objective lens in item 188, the diffractive pattern is provided on only one optical surface of a single lens, the other optical surface being aspherical.

By using a dedicated objective lens designed to allow parallel light from the first light source to pass through the transparent substrate (thickness t1) of the first optical information recording medium and to be converged without aberration, the case where the parallel light from the second light source enters the objective lens and passes through the transparent substrate (thickness t2, t2 > t1) of the second optical information recording medium is considered as follows.

For the incident parallel light, when there is no substrate and the wavelength is λ 1, the back focus is fB1, and when the wavelength is λ 2(λ 2 > λ 1), the back focus is fB 2.

In this case, the axial chromatic aberration Δ fB is defined as Δ fB ═ fB2-fB1 … … (1) Δ fB > 0 when the objective lens is a refractive aspherical single lens.

In addition, when the wavelength is λ 2 and light is condensed to pass through the transparent substrate of the second optical information recording medium, the spherical aberration is not zero with the axial focal position as a reference object for the following reasons:

(1) since spherical aberration due to wavelength is related to the refractive index of the objective lens, the refractive index changes with the change of the wavelengths λ 1 to λ 2.

(2) Spherical aberration occurs due to the difference between the thickness t1 of the transparent substrate of the first optical information recording medium and the thickness t2 of the transparent substrate of the second optical information recording medium.

(3) Spherical aberration is caused by the difference between the refractive index nd1(λ 1) of the transparent substrate of the first optical information recording medium and the refractive index nd2(λ 2) of the transparent substrate of the second optical information recording medium.

When the objective lens is a refractive type aspherical single lens, spherical aberration due to the factor (1) is increased. The spherical aberration due to the factor (2) also increases. In addition, when nd2 < nd1, the spherical aberration due to the factor (3) is also increased.

In the excessively high spherical aberration due to the factors (1) to (3), the spherical aberration due to the factor (2) accounts for almost the entire portion, and the order thereof is the spherical aberration due to the factor (1). The spherical aberration due to the factor (3) can be almost ignored.

The assumption is made in accordance with a case where the first optical information recording medium is a DVD, the first light source has a wavelength λ 1 of 650nm, the second optical information recording medium is a CD, and the second light source has a wavelength λ 2 of 780nm, for example, and the materials of the transparent substrates are the same in the DVD (thickness t1 ═ 0.6mm) and the CD (thickness t2 ═ 1.2mm), but the thicknesses are different.

Next, as shown in fig. 113(a), when the +1 st order diffracted light of the diffraction pattern rotationally symmetric to the optical axis is observed, the diffraction angle of the +1 st order light is large and the +1 st order light is diffracted more toward the optical axis side and is bent further toward the lower surface side when the wavelength is long. That is, when a parallel light flux without aberration from the second light source having the wavelength λ 2 is incident, the +1 order light has a performance that axial chromatic aberration and spherical aberration can be reduced, as compared with the case where a parallel light flux without aberration from the first light source having the wavelength λ 1 is incident. By using this property, it is possible to reduce the difference between the spherical aberration when light having a wavelength of λ 2 passes through the second optical information recording medium and the spherical aberration when light having a wavelength of λ 1 passes through the first optical information recording medium by introducing a rotationally symmetric diffraction pattern and using the +1 st order diffracted light.

When the substrate thickness t1 of the first optical information recording medium is larger than the substrate thickness t2 of the second optical information recording medium, spherical aberration due to the factor (2) is reduced, and as shown in fig. 12(b), by using-1 st order diffracted light having characteristics that can improve axial chromatic aberration and spherical aberration to be generated, aberration can be reduced.

In the present invention, in the case of using the +1 st order diffracted light, when the refractive index of the objective lens material is n (λ 1) at the wavelength λ 1 and the refractive index of the objective lens material is n (λ 2) at the wavelength λ 2, the depth of the diffraction pattern is λ 1/{ n (λ 1) -1} or λ 2/{ n (λ 2) -1}, and even if a plastic material having a relatively small refractive index is used, the depth is not larger than 2 μm, and therefore, the production of the objective lens with the integrated diffraction pattern is easier than that of a conventional hologram optical element or that of a hologram type ring lens.

Further, the optical head device according to item 191, comprising: a first light source having a wavelength λ 1; a second light source (λ 1 ≠ λ 2) having a wavelength λ 2; the objective lens has a diffraction pattern on at least one surface thereof, which can converge luminous flux from the corresponding light source onto an information recording surface of the optical information recording medium through the transparent substrate; the photodetector receives reflected light reflected from the optical information recording medium, the reflected light being emitted from the first light source and the second light source, the optical head device being characterized in that: the optical head device is capable of performing at least one of information recording or reproduction on a first optical information recording medium whose transparent substrate thickness is t1 by using at least m-order diffracted light (where m is a nonzero integer) of the diffraction pattern of the objective lens with the luminous flux from the first light source, and at least one of information recording or reproduction on a second optical information recording medium whose transparent substrate thickness is t2(t2 ≠ t1) by using at least n-order diffracted light (where n ═ m) of the diffraction pattern of the objective lens with the luminous flux from the second light source, the objective lens being made of a plastic material, the plastic material satisfying the following relationship: when the temperature changes Δ T (. degree. C.), the change amount of the refractive index is defined as Δ n, then-0.0002/. degree. C. < Δ n/Δ T < -0.00005/. degree. C., and the first light source satisfies the following relationship: when the temperature changes by Δ T (. degree. C.), the change in the emission wavelength is defined as Δ λ 1(nm), and 0.05 nm/. degree.C. < Δ λ 1/Δ T < 0.5 nm/. degree.C..

According to item 191, since the characteristic change of the optical head device due to the temperature change of the refractive index in the plastic objective lens and the characteristic change of the optical head device due to the temperature change of the light source wavelength have the effects of tending to cancel each other, the compensation effect can be obtained, and thus the optical head device having a strong adaptability to the temperature change can be obtained.

In addition, the optical head in item 192 has: a first light source having a wavelength λ 1; having a wavelength λ 2(λ 1 ≠ λ 2); an objective lens having a diffraction pattern on at least one surface thereof, which converges light fluxes from respective light sources onto an information recording surface of an optical information recording medium through a transparent substrate; a photodetector for receiving reflected light reflected from the optical information recording medium, the reflected light being emitted from the first light source and the second light source, the optical head device being characterized in that: the optical head device can perform at least one of information recording or reproduction on a first optical information recording medium having a transparent substrate thickness of t1 by using at least m-order diffracted light (where m is a non-zero integer) of the diffraction pattern of the objective lens with a light flux from the first light source, and the optical head device can perform at least one of information recording or reproduction by using at least n-order diffracted light (where n is m) of the diffraction pattern of the objective lens with a light flux from the second light source At least one of recording and reproducing of information can be performed on a second optical information recording medium having a transparent substrate thickness of t2(t2 ≠ t1), the wavelengths λ 1 and λ 2, and the thicknesses of the transparent substrates t1 and t2 have the following relationships: λ 2 > λ 1, T2 > T1, and in the case where the numerical aperture required of the optical information recording medium side of the objective lens necessary for performing recording and/or reproduction on the first optical information recording medium by the first light source is NA1, the focal length of the objective lens at the wavelength λ 1(mm) is f1(mm), and the ambient temperature change is Δ T (° c), when the amount of change in the third-order spherical aberration component of the wavefront aberration of the light flux condensed onto the information recording surface of the first information recording medium is Δ WSA3(λ 1rms), the following relationship is satisfied: 0.2X 10^-6/℃＜ΔWSA3·λ1/{f·(NA1)⁴·ΔT}＜2.2×10^-6/℃

According to item 192, the characteristics of the pickup device can be easily maintained even when the value of the target item is not more than the upper limit and even when the environmental temperature changes, and the characteristics of the pickup target device can be easily maintained even if only the temperature changes when the value of the target item is not less than the lower limit.

Further, the optical head device according to item 193 is characterized in that: in item 191 or 192, at least one collimator is included between the first light source and the objective lens and between the second light source and the objective lens, and a light flux from the first light source incident on the objective lens and a light flux from the second light source incident on the objective lens are both almost parallel light.

Further, the optical pickup device according to item 194 is characterized in that: in item 191, 192 or 193, t1 is from 0.55mm to 0.65mm, t2 is from 1.1mm to 1.3mm, λ 1 is from 630nm to 670nm, λ 2 is from 760nm to 820 nm.

Further, the optical pickup device in item 192 is provided with: a first light source having a wavelength λ 1; a second light source (λ 1 ≠ λ 2) having a wavelength λ 2; an objective lens having a diffraction pattern on at least one surface thereof, which converges light fluxes from respective light sources onto an information recording surface of an optical information recording medium through a transparent substrate; a photodetector for receiving reflected light reflected from the optical information recording medium and emitted from the first light source and the second light source, by using at least m-order diffracted light (where m is a non-zero integer) of the diffraction pattern of the objective lens with the luminous flux from the first light source, the optical head performs at least one of information recording or reproduction for a first optical information recording medium whose transparent substrate has a thickness of t1, the optical head performs at least one of recording or reproducing of information to or from a second optical information recording medium whose transparent substrate has a thickness of t2(t2 ≠ t1) by using at least n-th order diffracted light (where n ═ m) of the diffraction pattern of the objective lens with a luminous flux from the second light source, the optical head further has a correcting device for compensating a degree of divergence of a light flux from at least one of the first and second light sources incident to the objective lens.

According to item 195, by compensating for the degree of divergence of the light flux incident to the objective lens, the third-order spherical aberration of the entire optical system including the objective lens can be corrected according to the design value.

Further, the optical head device in item 196, in item 195, which includes at least one collimator between the first light source and the objective lens and between the second light source and the objective lens, the optical head device in item 197 is characterized in that: by varying the distance between the first and/or second light source and the at least one collimator, a correction of the degree of divergence is achieved with the correction means. The correction of the degree of divergence by the correction means is characterized in that: this is achieved by varying the distance between the first and/or second light source and the at least one collimator. By changing the distance between the light source and the collimator, the degree of divergence of the light flux from one light source incident on the objective lens can be corrected.

Further, the optical pickup device according to item 192 includes: a first light source having a wavelength λ 1; a second light source having a wavelength λ 2(λ 1 ≠ λ 2); an objective lens having a diffraction pattern on at least one surface thereof, the objective lens converging light fluxes from respective light sources onto an information recording surface of an optical information recording medium through a transparent substrate; a photodetector that receives reflected light emitted from the first light source and the second light source and reflected from the optical information recording medium, the optical head device being characterized in that: the optical head device performs at least one of information recording or reproduction on a first optical information recording medium whose transparent substrate thickness is t1 by using at least m-order diffracted light of the diffraction pattern of the objective lens with a luminous flux from a first light source, performs at least one of information recording or reproduction on a second optical information recording medium whose transparent substrate thickness is t2(t2 ≠ t1) by using at least n-order diffracted light of the diffraction pattern of the objective lens with a luminous flux from a second light source (where n ═ m), and for each of lights having two different wavelengths (λ) output from the first and second light sources, an aberration wavefront on an image forming surface is not more than 0.07 λ rms within a maximum numerical aperture on the image side of the objective lens.

According to item 198, at the time of recording and/or reproducing the first and second information recording media, there is no dispersed light in each of the information recording surface and the photodetector, and therefore, the performance of the optical head device becomes more excellent.

Further, the optical pickup device according to item 199 is characterized in that: in any of items 122-156,198, the first light source and the second light source comprise a unit, and the light detector is common to both the first light source and the second light source.

Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings.

The optical system of the first embodiment of the present invention is basically a 2-sided aspherical single lens with a diffraction zone (annular area diffraction surface) on one aspherical surface. In general, in the aspherical refractive surface, when spherical aberration is corrected for light of a certain main wavelength, spherical aberration is reduced (under-corrected) for light of a wavelength shorter than the main wavelength. In contrast, in a diffraction lens as a lens having a diffraction surface, when spherical aberration is corrected by the main wavelength light, the spherical aberration is improved (corrected excessively) at a wavelength shorter than the main wavelength. Therefore, when the aspherical surface coefficients of the refractive aspherical lens, the coefficients of the phase difference function of the refractive lens are correctly selected, and the refractive power and the diffractive power are combined, the spherical aberration can be accurately corrected by 2 different wavelengths of light.

In general, the pitch of the diffraction zones is defined using an aberration function or an optical path difference function, which will be described in detail in the following examples. Specifically, in the following [ equation 1]]In which the phase difference function phi is expressed_BIn radians, in the following [ equation 2]]In (1) represents the optical path difference function phi_bIn mm.

[ equation 1]

[ equation 2]

These 2 expression methods are equivalent to each other in the sense of representing the pitch of the diffraction ring band, although the units are different from each other. I.e. for the dominant wavelength lambda (in mm). The coefficient B of the phase difference function may be converted into a coefficient B of the optical path difference function when it is multiplied by λ/2 π, or conversely, may be converted into a coefficient B of the phase difference function when it is multiplied by 2 π/λ.

Here, for simplicity of explanation, a diffraction lens using 1 st order diffracted light will be explained. In the case of an optical path difference function, when the function value of each order exceeds an integer multiple of the main wavelength λ, an annular zone is engraved, and in the case of a phase difference function, when the function value of each order exceeds an integer multiple of 2 π, an annular zone is engraved.

For example, consider a lens in which a diffraction zone is engraved on one surface having no refractive power to a 2-plane cylindrical material, when the dominant wavelength is 0.5 μm-0.0005 mm, the second-order power coefficient (second-order power term) of the optical path difference function is-0.05 (when converted to the second-order power coefficient of the phase difference function, it is-628.3), the other second-order power coefficients are all zero, the diameter of the first zone is h-0.1 mm, and the diameter of the second zone is h-0.141 mm. In addition, regarding the focal length f of this diffraction lens, when the second-order power coefficient b2, b2 of the optical path difference function is-0.05, it is known that f is-1/(2 · b2) is 10 mm.

Here, in the case of using the above definition as a basis, when the second order power coefficient of the phase difference or the optical path difference is a non-zero value, the chromatic aberration in the region close to the optical axis, so-called paraxial region, can be corrected. In addition, when a coefficient other than the second-order power coefficient of the phase difference function or the optical path difference function is a nonzero value, for example, a fourth-order power coefficient, a sixth-order power coefficient, an eighth-order power coefficient, a tenth-order power coefficient, or the like, spherical aberration between 2 wavelengths can be controlled. Incidentally, here, "control" means that the difference in spherical aberration between 2 wavelengths can be made very small while also providing the difference necessary for optical requirements.

As a specific application of the above description, when collimated lights (parallel lights) from 2 kinds of light sources having different wavelengths are simultaneously incident on the objective lens, in order to form an image on the optical disc, it is preferable that paraxial chromatic aberration is initially corrected with a second-order power term coefficient of a phase difference function or an optical path difference function, and then a difference between spherical aberrations of 2 wavelengths is further reduced, so that the paraxial chromatic aberration is within an allowable value by using a fourth-order power term or a later-order power term coefficient of the phase difference function or the optical path difference function.

In addition, as another example, a case will be considered below in which one objective lens is used for light of 2 light sources having different wavelengths, and for light of one wavelength, aberration is corrected for use with a disc having a thickness (thickness of the transparent substrate) of t1, and for light of another wavelength, aberration is corrected for use with a disc having a thickness (thickness of the transparent substrate) of t 2. In this case, when the coefficients after the fourth power terms of the phase difference function or the optical path difference function are mainly used, the difference of the spherical aberration between 2 wavelengths is provided, and the spherical aberration is corrected using the corresponding wavelength for the corresponding thickness. In addition, in both cases, the aspherical surface makes it easier to correct aberration between 2 wavelengths than the spherical surface for the refractive surface.

The aspheric refractive surfaces have respective different refractive powers for different wavelengths and have different light convergence points, and thus, the respective light convergence points correspond to optical discs having respective substrate thicknesses. In this case, the shorter wavelength of the light source is not more than 700nm, and the longer wavelength of the light source is not less than 600nm, preferably, the difference in wavelength is not less than 80 nm. Further, it is preferable that the wavelength difference is not more than 400nm, and further, it is more preferable that the wavelength difference is not less than 100nm and not more than 200 nm. It is preferable that the diffraction plane has the maximum diffraction efficiency at its middle wavelength for light having 2 different wavelengths, but the diffraction plane may have the maximum diffraction efficiency at any one wavelength.

By using the same behavior as the correction for spherical aberration, a diffractive annular lens can be provided on the light surface, and for each of the light sources having 2 different wavelengths, the axis difference can be corrected by some kind of the same order diffracted light. That is, the axial chromatic aberration of light for light sources having 2 different wavelengths can be corrected to within a range of ± λ/(2NA 2). Where λ is the longer of the 2 wavelengths and NA is the numerical aperture of the image side corresponding to the longer wavelength.

In addition, when the wavelength difference of the light sources having 2 different wavelengths is not less than 80nm, the abbe number of the glass material of the objective lens is vd, and it is desirable that an expression satisfying the following condition is satisfied:

vd＞50 ……(1)

conditional expression (1) is a condition for reducing the second order spectrum when correcting axial chromatic aberration for a light source having 2 different wavelengths.

Next, when the diffraction surface is located on one surface of a thin single lens, the entire single lens is regarded as a combination of a refractive lens as a basis for generating diffraction irregularities and a diffraction surface, and hereinafter, chromatic aberration of such a combined lens will be considered. The condition of no chromatic aberration composed of a certain wavelength λ x and wavelength λ y (λ x < λ y) is as follows:

fR · vR + fD · vD ═ 0, where fR, fD: focal lengths of the respective refractive lenses and the diffraction surface, vR, vD: abbe numbers of the respective refractive lenses and the diffraction surfaces, and are determined by the following expressions:

vR＝(n0-1)/(nx-ny)

vD＝λ0/(λx-λy)

Wherein, n 0: refractive index at reference wavelength, λ 0: the reference wavelength.

In this case, the color difference δ f for a certain wavelength λ z is expressed by the following equation:

δf＝f(θR-θD)/(vR-vD) ……(2)

wherein, θ R, θ D: the respective local variation ratios of the refractive lens and the diffractive surface, which are determined by the following equations.

θR＝(nx-nz)/(nx-ny)

θD＝(λx-λz)/(λx-λy)

Wherein nz: refractive index at wavelength λ z.

For example, when λ 0 ═ λ x ═ 635nm, λ y ═ 780nm, λ z ═ 650nm, and the glass material of the refractive lens used as the base was BSC7(vD ═ 64.2) manufactured by Hoya corporation, then vR ═ 134.5, vD ═ 4.38, θ R ═ 0.128, and θ D ═ 0.103, and then δ f ═ 0.18 × 10^-3f。

When the glass material of the basic refractive lens is E-FD1 (vd: 29.5) manufactured by Hoya corporation, it is possible to obtain 70.5 vR and 0.136 θ R, and thus 0.44 × 10 δ f^-3f。

As described above, in equation (2), in the right denominator (γ R- γ D), since | vD | is much smaller than | vR |, a change in abbe number vR of the refractive lens determines a change in chromatic aberration δ f due to a glass material replacing the refractive lens. On the other hand, θ R and θ D are determined only by wavelength, and the change in the right numerator (θ R- θ D) contributes less than the right denominator (vR-vD).

From the above description, in order to suppress the second order spectrum δ f and make it small in the lens having the diffraction surface, it can be understood that selecting a material having a large abbe number vR for the material of the refractive lens is an effective method. Conditional equation (1) shows an effective limitation to suppress the second order spectrum, which can cope with the wavelength variation of the light source.

In addition, in the case where the diffraction surface is not used at the time of achromatization, but the refractive lenses of two materials are stuck together, when θ R is a + b · vR + Δ θ R (a, b are constants) for each material, if Δ θ R is small and there is no anomalous dispersion, the second spectrum δ f does not depend on the abbe number vR of the 2 refractive lenses. Therefore, it is understood that expression (1) is a specific condition for the diffractive optical system.

In order to easily produce the diffraction lens of the present invention, the objective lens is preferably made of a plastic material. As the plastic material satisfying the conditional expression (1), acrylic series and polyolefin series plastic materials can be used, but polyolefin series are preferably used in view of moisture resistance and heat resistance.

Next, the structure of the objective lens and the optical head device having the objective lens of the second embodiment of the present invention will be specifically described.

In fig. 48, a schematic configuration diagram of the optical head device of the present invention is shown. The optical discs 20 as optical information recording media to and/or from which information can be recorded and/or reproduced by the optical head device are three types of discs, the thickness of the transparent substrate of the first type of optical disc (e.g., DVD) being t1, the thickness of the transparent substrate of the second type of optical disc (e.g., blue laser using the second generation high-density optical disc) being t2, and the third type of optical disc (e.g., CD), the thickness of the transparent substrate of which being t2, different from t1, and hereinafter, these discs will be referred to as optical discs 20. Here, the thickness t1 of the transparent substrate is 0.6mm, and t2 is 1.2 mm.

The optical head device shown in the drawings has: the light source includes a first semiconductor laser 11 (wavelength λ)₁610nm-670nm), a blue laser 12 (wavelength λ) as a second light source₂400nm-440nm), a second semiconductor laser 13 (wavelength λ) as a third light source₃740nm-870nm) and the optical head device has an objective lens 1 as part of the optical system. The selective use of the first light source, the second light source, and the third light source respectively corresponds to an optical disc for recording and/or reproducing information.

The divergent luminous fluxes emitted from the first semiconductor laser 11, the blue laser 12, and the second semiconductor laser 13 pass through the beam splitter 13 and the diaphragm 3, then pass through the transparent substrate 21 of the optical disc 20, pass through the objective lens 1, and are converged onto the corresponding information recording surface 22, and form a spot.

Incident light from each laser is made into modulated reflected light by the information signal pits on the information recording surface 22, and passes through the beam splitter 18 and the toric lens 29 to enter the common photodetector 30, and by using the output signal thereof, a read signal, a focus detection signal, and a tracking detection signal of information recorded on the optical disc 20 can be obtained.

In addition, the aperture 3 in the optical path, in this example, has a fixed numerical aperture (NA0.65) and does not require an extra device, and therefore, cost reduction can be achieved. Incidentally, when recording and/or playing back the third disc, the numerical aperture of the diaphragm 3 is changeable, so that unnecessary (larger than NA 0.45) light can be eliminated.

When the band filter is integrated on the optical surface of the objective lens 1 so that the light flux of the portion other than the aperture to be actually used is shielded, it is also possible to easily eliminate the diffused light other than the aperture to be actually used with a low-cost structure.

When a certain conjugate type optical system is used as in the present invention, it is necessary to keep the relationship between the light source and the light converging optical system constant to maintain the light converging performance, it is desirable to: with the focusing and tracking movement, the light sources 11, 12, and 13, and the objective lens 1 move as a unit.

Next, the structure of an objective lens of a third embodiment of the present invention and an optical head device including the objective lens will be specifically described.

In fig. 49, a schematic configuration diagram of the optical head device of the present invention is shown. The optical head device shown in fig. 49 is an example in which a laser/detector combination unit 40 is used, in which unit 40 a laser, a photodetector, and a hologram constitute a unit, and the same devices as those in fig. 48 are denoted by the same numeral codes. In this optical head device, the first semiconductor laser 11, the blue laser 12, the first photodetector device 31, the second photodetector device 32, and the hologram beam splitter 23 are mounted in one unit as a laser/detector integration unit 40.

When the first optical disk is played, the light flux emitted from the first semiconductor laser 11 passes through the hologram beam splitter 23, is reduced in aperture by the stop 3, passes through the transparent substrate 21 of the first optical disk 20, and is converged on the information recording surface 22 by the objective lens 1. Thereafter, the light flux is modulated by the information signal pits, and is reflected on the information recording surface 22, passes through the objective lens 1 and the stop 3, is diffracted again at the disc-side surface of the hologram beam splitter 23, and enters the first photodetector 31 corresponding to the first semiconductor laser 11. Then, by using the output signal of the first photodetector 31, a readout signal, a focus detection signal, and a tracking detection signal of information recorded on the first optical disc 20 can be obtained.

When the second optical disc is played, the light flux emitted from the blue laser 12 is diffracted by the laser-side face of the hologram beam splitter 23 and proceeds along the same optical path as the light flux from the first semiconductor laser 11. That is, the surface of the hologram beam splitter 23 on the semiconductor laser side functions as a light combining device. Further, the light flux is converged on the information recording surface 22 through the aperture 3, the objective lens 1, and the transparent substrate 21 of the second optical disc 20. The light flux is modulated by the information signal pits, reflected on the information recording surface 22, passes through the lens 1 and the stop 3, diffracted by the surface of the hologram beam splitter 23 on the disc side, and enters the second photodetector 32 corresponding to the blue laser 12. Then, by using the output signal of the second photodetector 32, a read signal, a focus detection signal, and a tracking detection signal of information recorded on the second optical disc 20 can be obtained.

In addition, when the third optical disc is played back, the laser/detector combination unit 14 composed of the second semiconductor laser 13, the third light detection device 33, and the hologram beam splitter 24 is used. The light flux emitted from the second semiconductor laser 13 passes through the hologram beam splitter 24, is reflected by the beam splitter 19 constituting the emitted light constituting means, is reduced in size by the diaphragm 3, passes through the transparent substrate of the optical disk 20, and is condensed on the information recording surface 22 by the lens 1. Then, the light flux is modulated by the information signal pits, reflected by the information recording surface 22, then passes through the objective lens 1, the stop 3, and the beam splitter 19, and is diffracted again by the hologram beam splitter 24 and enters the photodetector 33. In this way, by using the output signal of the third photodetector 33, a read signal, a focus detection signal, and a tracking detection signal of information recorded on the third optical disc 20 can be obtained.

In the optical head devices in the second and third embodiments, a belt-shaped diffraction surface concentric with the optical axis 4 is mounted on the aspherical refractive surface of the objective lens 1. In general, in the case where the objective lens is composed of only aspherical refractive surfaces, when spherical aberration is corrected for a certain wavelength λ a, spherical aberration for a wavelength λ b shorter than λ a is reduced. On the other hand, in the case of using a diffraction surface, when spherical aberration is corrected for a certain wavelength λ a, spherical aberration for a wavelength λ b shorter than λ a increases. Therefore, when aspheric optical design is performed using the refractive surface, the coefficients of the phase difference function of the diffractive surface are appropriately selected so that refractive power and diffractive power can be combined to correct spherical aberration between different wavelengths. In addition, on the aspherical refractive surface, when the wavelength is different, the diffractive power is also changed, and the light converging position is also different. Therefore, when the aspherical refractive surfaces are appropriately designed, light having different wavelengths can also be condensed onto the information recording surface 22 of each transparent substrate 21.

In addition, in the objective lens 1 of the second and third embodiments, when the phase difference function of the aspherical refractive surface and the annular zone diffraction surface is appropriately designed, spherical aberration due to the difference in the transparent substrate thickness 21 of the optical disc 20 can be corrected for each light flux emitted by the first semiconductor laser 11, the blue laser 12, or the second semiconductor laser 13. In addition, on the zone diffraction surface, when the fourth power of the power series and the coefficients of the subsequent terms are used as the phase difference function representing the zone position, the chromatic aberration of the spherical aberration can be corrected. Incidentally, with the third optical disc (CD), the aperture that is actually used is NA 0.45, and on the third optical disc, spherical aberration is corrected to be within NA 0.45, while spherical aberration located outside NA 0.45 becomes dispersed light. By these corrections, the aberration of the light converging point on the image recording surface 22 becomes almost at the same step (0.07 λ rms) as the diffraction limit or lower for each optical disk 20.

The above-described optical head devices in the second and third embodiments may be mounted in a recording device for audio and/or image, or in a reproducing device for audio and/or image compatible with a player or drive, or may be mounted on AV equipment, a personal computer, or other information terminal to which these equipment can be mounted, for any 2 or more, i.e., a plurality of, optical information recording media, such as, for example, CDs, CD-R, CD-RW, CD-videos, CD-ROMs, DVDs, DVD-ROMs, DVD-RAMs, DVD-R, DVD-RW, MDs, or the like.

Next, an objective lens of a fourth embodiment of the present invention and an optical head device including the objective lens will be specifically described.

Fig. 67 is a schematic configuration diagram of the optical head device 10 of the present invention. In fig. 67, the components common to those in the second and third embodiments are denoted by the same numerical codes. In fig. 67, the optical head device 10 performs recording/playback on a plurality of types of optical discs 20 as optical information recording media. Hereinafter, the plurality of types of optical disks 20 are referred to as a first type optical disk (DVD) whose transparent substrate has a thickness of t1, a second type optical disk (second generation high density optical disk for blue laser), and a third type optical disk (CD) whose transparent substrate has a thickness of t2, and t2 is different from t 1. Here, the thickness t1 of the transparent substrate is 0.6mm, and t2 is 1.2 mm.

The optical head device 10 includes: the light source includes a first semiconductor laser 11 (wavelength λ)₁610nm-670nm), a blue laser 12 (wavelength λ) as a second light source₂400nm-440nm), and a second semiconductor laser 13 (wavelength λ) as a third light source₃740nm-870 nm). These first light source, second light source and third light source are dedicated to the corresponding optical disc to be recorded/played.

The light converging optical system 5 is a device for converging light fluxes emitted from the first semiconductor laser 11, the blue laser 12, and the second semiconductor laser 13 onto the information recording surface 22 through the transparent substrate 21 of the optical disc 20 and forming a spot. In this example, the light converging optical system 5 has a collimator lens 2 to convert the light flux emitted from the light source into parallel light (may also be almost parallel), and an objective lens 1 to perform convergence on the light flux converted into parallel light by the collimator lens 2.

On both surfaces of the objective lens 1, annular zone diffraction surfaces concentric with the optical axis 4 are formed. In general, in the case where the light converging optical system 5 is formed only of an aspherical refractive surface, when spherical aberration is corrected for a certain wavelength λ a, spherical aberration for a wavelength λ b shorter than λ a is reduced. On the other hand, in the case of using a refractive surface, when spherical aberration is corrected for a certain wavelength λ a, spherical aberration for a wavelength λ b shorter than λ a increases. Therefore, when aspherical optical design is performed using a refractive surface, and the coefficients of the phase difference function of the diffraction surface are appropriately selected, and refractive power and diffractive power are combined, spherical aberration between different wavelengths can be corrected. In addition, on the aspherical refractive surface, when the wavelength is different, the refractive power is also changed, and the light converging position is also different. Therefore, when the aspherical refractive surfaces are appropriately designed, light having different wavelengths can be condensed on the information recording surface 22 of each transparent substrate 21.

On the above-described ring-shaped diffraction plane, for each light flux from the first semiconductor laser 11, the blue laser 12, or the second semiconductor laser 13, aberration is corrected with 1 st order diffracted light. When the same order diffracted light corresponds to the light flux, the loss of the light amount is smaller than when the different order diffracted light corresponds to the light flux, and further, when the 1 st order diffracted light is used, the loss of the light amount is smaller than when the higher order diffracted light corresponds to the light flux. Therefore, the objective lens 1 of the present embodiment can effectively record information to an optical disk such as a DVD-RAM in an optical head device, which can record high-density information. In addition, the diffraction surface is preferable in that: for light having 3 different wavelengths, the diffractive power is greatest at the intermediate wavelengths, but it is also possible to have the greatest diffractive power at both ends of these wavelengths.

Spherical aberration generated by the difference in thickness of the transparent substrate 21 of the optical disc 20 is corrected for each light flux emitted from the first semiconductor laser 11, the blue laser 12, and the second semiconductor laser 13 when the phase difference function of the aspherical refractive surface and the annular zone diffraction surface is appropriately designed. In addition, in the phase difference function representing the position of the zone formed on the objective lens 1, when the fourth-order term in the power series and the coefficients of the subsequent terms are used, the chromatic aberration of the spherical aberration can be corrected. Incidentally, with the third optical disc (CD), the aperture that is actually used is NA 0.45, spherical aberration is corrected to within NA 0.45, and spherical aberration that lies outside NA 0.45 becomes dispersed light. The light flux passing through the area within NA 0.45 forms a spot on the information recording surface, and the dispersed light passing through the area outside NA 0.45 passes through the area far from the spot on the information recording surface so that it does not have a bad influence. According to these corrections, the aberration of the light converging point on the information recording surface is almost at the same step as or lower than the diffraction limit (0.07 λ rms) for each optical disk 20.

In the present embodiment, the diaphragm 3 in the optical path is a diaphragm having a fixed numerical aperture (NA 0.65), and no redundant device is required, so that cost reduction can be achieved. Incidentally, when recording and/or playing back the third disc, the numerical aperture of the diaphragm 3 may be variable, so that unnecessary (larger than NA 0.45) light can be eliminated. In addition, the beam splitter 67 is used to adjust the optical axis of the light of each laser. As is well known, a light detector (not shown) may be used for each light source, respectively, or one light detector may receive reflected light corresponding to the 3 light sources 11, 12, and 13.

Next, a fifth embodiment of the present invention will be explained.

In this embodiment, since only the coefficient of the second-order power term in the power series is used as the phase difference function indicating the zone position on the zone diffraction surface, unlike the objective lens in the fourth embodiment, the axial chromatic aberration can be corrected. In addition, according to the objective lens of the present embodiment, the aberration of the light converging point on the information recording surface 22 can become almost at the same step as or smaller than the diffraction limit (0.07 λ rms) for each optical disc 20 in the same manner as in the fourth embodiment.

Next, a sixth embodiment of the present invention will be explained.

In the optical head device of the present embodiment, the light flux emitted from the light source is converted into parallel light by the coupling lens for the first optical disk (for example, DVD) and the second optical disk (for example, second generation high density optical disk for blue laser), and the light flux emitted from the light source is converted into divergent light by the coupling lens for the third optical disk (for example, CD). These are each converged by an objective lens. The thickness of the transparent substrate 21 of the first and second optical discs is 0.6mm, and the thickness of the transparent substrate 21 of the third optical disc is 1.2 mm.

In the present embodiment, the spherical aberration of the first optical disc and the second optical disc are both corrected to within the diffraction limit by the diffraction surface, and with the third optical disc, the spherical aberration generated due to the disc thickness being larger than the first and second optical discs is mainly cancelled by the spherical aberration generated by the divergent light incident to the objective lens, and the spherical aberration is corrected to within the diffraction limit at a numerical aperture lower than that necessary for recording/reproducing the third optical disc, for example, NA 0.5 or NA 0.45.

Therefore, when the sum λ is matched₁、λ₂、λ₃(λ₁＜λ₂＜λ₃) The predetermined numerical apertures required for performing recording/reproduction for each wavelength of the optical information recording medium are NA1, NA2, and NA3, the RMS of the wavefront aberration can be corrected to a value for each wavelength: less than 0.07 lambda in the range of NA1 ₁In the range of NA2, below 0.07 lambda₂In the range of NA3, below 0.07 lambda₃。

In addition, with the third optical disc, it is not good to make the diameter of the spot very small with a light flux of a numerical aperture NA larger than a predetermined numerical aperture NA. Therefore, it is preferable that the spherical aberration becomes dispersed light in a numerical aperture larger than the necessary numerical aperture using the same method as the fourth embodiment.

In the fourth to sixth embodiments, the above-described optical head device having 3 kinds of light sources of different wavelengths may be mounted in a recording device for audio and/or image, or in a reproduction device for audio and/or image compatible with a player or drive, or in an AV apparatus capable of mounting the above-described apparatus, on a personal computer, or other information terminal, for use in any of 2 or more, i.e., a plurality of, optical information recording media, which may be, for example, CDs, CD-R, CD-RW, CD-Video, CD-ROM, DVDs, DVD-ROMs, DVD-RAMs, DVD-R, DVD-RW, MD, or the like.

Examples of the present invention

An example of the objective lens of the present invention will be described below.

[ examples 1 to 8]

The objective lenses in examples 1 to 8 are specific examples of the objective lens according to the first embodiment, having an aspherical shape represented by [ equation 3] on the refractive surface.

[ equation 3]

Where z is an axis in the direction of the optical axis, h is an axis in the direction perpendicular to the optical axis (height from the optical axis: positive along the direction of light travel), R0 is the paraxial radius of curvature, k is a conic coefficient, A is an aspherical coefficient, and 2i is an index of the aspherical surface. In addition, in examples 1-3 and 6-8, the diffraction plane is expressed by [ equation 1] as the phase difference function Φ B in radians, and in the same manner, in examples 4 and 5, [ equation 2] in the diffraction plane is expressed as the optical path difference function Φ B in mm.

[ equation 1]

[ equation 2]

Example 1

Fig. 1 shows a view of an optical path of a diffractive light lens (objective lens having a diffractive surface) as an objective lens in example 1. A view of spherical aberration up to a numerical aperture of 0.60 for a wavelength λ of 635nm for the diffractive light lens in example 1 is shown in fig. 2. In addition, fig. 3 and 4 show the spherical aberration diagrams up to numerical apertures 0.45 and 0.60, respectively, for wavelengths λ 780nm of the diffractive light lens of example 1. Incidentally, although the diffraction lens shown in fig. 1 has a carved coaxial zone on the entire lens surface thereof, the relief shape of the diffraction part is omitted in the figure. Similarly, in the following drawings, the diffraction part is omitted.

According to the diffractive light lens in example 1, as shown in fig. 2, almost no aberration is caused for the wavelength λ of 635nm at all apertures up to NA 0.60. As shown in fig. 3, almost no aberration occurs in the actually used range up to NA 0.45 for the wavelength λ of 780 nm. As shown in fig. 4, in the outer portion thereof, i.e., the portion of NA 0.45-0.60, spherical aberration is greatly reduced and is changed into dispersed light. From this, an appropriate spot diameter can be obtained.

Wavefront aberrations for the diffractive lens of example 1 for wavelengths λ 635nm and λ 780nm are shown in fig. 5 and 6, respectively. As can be seen from these figures, according to the diffractive light lens in example 1, there is no aberration on the optical axis for any one wavelength, and even in the case where the image height is 0.03, the aberration level in actual use is almost no aberration.

Hereinafter, the lens data of example 1 will be displayed. In [ table 1], R is a radius of curvature, d is a space between faces, n is a refractive index at a dominant wavelength, and v is an abbe constant.

Example 1

When the wavelength λ 1 of the light source is 635nm, the focal length f1 is 3.34, and the numerical aperture NA1 is 0.60, which is infinite.

When the wavelength λ 2 of the light source is 780nm, the focal length f2 is 3.36, and the numerical aperture NA2 is 0.45, infinity.

In this embodiment, the amount of +1 order diffracted light generated is larger than any other order diffracted light within the luminous flux of λ 1. Similarly, in the light flux of λ 2, the amount of +1 order diffracted light generated is larger than that of any other order diffracted light. Assuming that the diffraction efficiency for the +1 st order diffracted light of the luminous flux of λ 1 is 100%, the diffraction efficiency for the luminous flux of λ 2 is 84%. Further, the diffraction efficiency for the +1 st order diffracted light of the luminous flux λ 2 is assumed to be 100%, and the diffraction efficiency for the luminous flux λ 1 is assumed to be 89%.

TABLE 1

Flour mark	R	d₁	d₂	n₁	n₂	vd	nd
Flour mark	R	d₁	d₂	n₁	n₂	vd	nd	1 (aspheric surface 1. diffraction surface) 2 (aspheric surface 2)3 (glass cover) 4	2.126-7.370∞∞	2.21.00.6	2.21.01.2	1.538291.58139	1.533881.57346	5630	1.54041.585

(subscript 1 is at. lambda.)₁At 635nm, the subscript 2 is at λ₂780nm, vd and nd respectively represent the value of d-line)

Coefficient of aspheric surface

Aspherical surface 1 aspherical surface 2

κ＝-0.10721 κ＝-11.653

A4＝-0.0032315 A4＝0.0038456

A6＝-0.00058160 A6＝-0.020800

A8＝-4.6316×10^-5 A8＝0.0078684

A10＝-3.79858×10^-5 A10＝-0.0019431

A12＝-6.0308×10^-6 A12＝0.00024343

Coefficient of diffraction surface

B2＝-96.766

B4＝-2.9950

B6＝2.1306

B8＝-0.12614

B10＝-0.095285

Examples 2 and 3

Next, examples 2 and 3 will be explained. Fig. 7 and 8 show views of the optical path of the diffractive light lens as the objective lens in example 2 for λ 405nm and 635nm, respectively. In addition, in fig. 9 and 10, spherical aberration views up to a numerical aperture of 0.60 for λ 405nm and 635nm for the diffractive light lens in example 2 are shown, respectively. In addition, in fig. 11 and 12, wavefront aberration views for the diffractive light lens in example 2 for wavelengths λ 405nm and 635nm are shown, respectively.

In addition, in fig. 13 and 14, views of the optical path of the diffractive light lens as the objective lens in example 3 for λ 405nm and 635nm are shown, respectively. In addition, in fig. 15 and 16, spherical aberration diagrams up to a numerical aperture of 0.60 for λ 405nm and 635nm for the diffractive light lens in example 3 are shown, respectively. In addition, in fig. 17 and 18, wavefront aberration views for the diffractive light lens in example 3 for wavelengths λ 405nm and 635nm are shown, respectively.

In examples 2 and 3, the thickness of the substrate for both the wavelength λ 405nm and the wavelength λ 635nm was 0.6mm, the NA was 0.6, and the wavefront aberration was almost aberration-free on the optical axis, which was in a level of practically almost no aberration even in the case of an image height of 0.03 mm.

The lens data of examples 2 and 3 will be apparent below.

Example 2

When the wavelength λ 1 of the light source is 405nm, the focal length f1 is 3.23, and the numerical aperture NA1 is 0.60, which is infinite.

When the wavelength λ 2 of the light source is 635nm, the focal length f1 is 3.34, and the numerical aperture NA2 is 0.60, which is infinite.

In this embodiment, the amount of +1 order diffracted light generated is larger than any other order diffracted light in the luminous flux of λ 1. Similarly, in the light flux of λ 2, the amount of +1 order diffracted light generated is larger than that of any other order diffracted light.

TABLE 2

Flour mark	R	d₁	d₂	n₁	n₂	vd	nd
Flour mark	R	d₁	d₂	n₁	n₂	vd	nd	1 (aspheric surface 1. diffraction surface) 2 (aspheric surface 2)3 (glass cover) 4	2.128-7.359∞∞	2.21.00.6	2.21.00.6	1.556821.62230	1.538291.58139	5630	1.54051.585

(subscript 1 is at. lambda.)₁At 405nm, the subscript 2 is at λ₂At 635nm, vd and nd respectively represent the value of the d-line)

Coefficient of aspheric surface

Aspherical surface 1 aspherical surface 2

κ＝-0.15079 κ＝-3.8288

A4＝-0.0021230 A4＝0.0036962

A6＝-0.00076528 A6＝-0.020858

A8＝-8.84957×10^-5 A8＝0.0079732

A10＝-3.49803×10^-5 A10＝-0.0018713

A12＝-2.38916×10^-6 A12＝0.00022504

Coefficient of diffraction surface

B2＝0.0

B4＝-6.7169

B6＝2.0791

B8＝-0.31970

B10＝0.00016708

Example 3

When the wavelength λ 1 of the light source is 405nm, the focal length f1 is 3.31, and the numerical aperture NA1 is 0.60, which is infinite.

TABLE 3

Flour mark	R	d₁	d₂	n₁	n₂	vd	nd
Flour mark	R	d₁	d₂	n₁	n₂	vd	nd	1 (aspheric surface 1. diffraction surface) 2 (aspheric surface 2)3 (glass cover) 4	2.300-7.359∞∞	2.21.00.6	2.21.00.6	1.556821.62230	1.538291.58139	5630	1.54041.585

Coefficient of aspheric surface

Aspherical surface 1 aspherical surface 2

κ＝-0.19029 κ＝6.4430

A4＝0.00030538 A4＝0.037045

A6＝-0.0010619 A6＝-0.021474

A8＝-7.5747×10^-5 A8＝0.0078175

A10＝-6.7599×10^-5 A10＝-0.0016064

A12＝-3.3788×10^-6 A12＝0.00014332

Coefficient of diffraction surface

B2＝-96.766

B4＝-2.9950

B6＝-0.25560

B8＝-0.08789

B10＝0.014562

Examples 4 and 5

Next, examples 4 and 5 will be explained, in which chromatic aberration correction is used. Fig. 19 is a view showing the optical path of the diffractive light lens as the objective lens in example 4. In addition, in fig. 20, spherical aberration diagrams up to a numerical aperture of 0.50 for λ of 635nm, 650nm and 780nm are shown, respectively, for the diffractive light lens in example 4. Fig. 21 shows a view of an optical path of a diffractive light lens as an objective lens in example 5. In addition, in fig. 22, wavefront aberration views for the diffractive light lens in example 5 up to a numerical aperture of 0.50 for wavelengths λ of 635nm, 650nm, and 780nm, respectively, are shown.

As can be seen from fig. 20 and 22, according to the diffractive light lenses in examples 4 and 5, the shift due to the color is almost best corrected for the wavelength λ of 635nm and the wavelength λ of 780nm, and it is also corrected to such an extent that there is no problem in practice for the wavelength λ of 650 nm.

The lens data in examples 4 and 5 will be shown below.

Example 4

When the wavelength λ 1 of the light source is 635nm, the focal length f1 is 3.40, and the numerical aperture NA1 is 0.50, which is infinite.

When the wavelength λ 2 of the light source is 780nm, the focal length f2 is 3.41, and the numerical aperture NA2 is 0.50, which is infinite.

TABLE 4

Surface number	R	d₁	d₂	n₁	n₂	vd	nd
Surface number	R	d₁	d₂	n₁	n₂	vd	nd	1 (aspherical surface 1. diffractive surface) 2 (aspherical surface 2)3 glass cover 4	2.442-5.990∞∞	1.901.681.20	1.901.681.20	1.54171.5790	1.53731.5708	5630	1.54381.5830

(subscript 1 is denoted at. lambda.)₁At 635nm, the subscript 2 is as indicated at λ₂At 780nm, vd and nd are the values of the d-line, respectively. )

Coefficient of aspheric surface

Aspherical surface 1 aspherical surface 2

k＝-0.53245 k＝7.3988

A4＝0.24033×10^-2 A4＝0.90408×10^-2

A6＝-0.91472×10^-3 A6＝-0.18704×10^-2

A8＝0.15590×10^-4 A8＝-0.47368×10^-3

A10＝-0.11131×10^-3 A10＝0.16891×10^-3

Coefficient of diffraction surface

b2＝-0.36764×10^-2

b4＝-0.91727×10^-4

b6＝-0.34903×10^-4

b8＝0.77485×10^-5

b10＝-0.15750×10^-5

Example 5

When wavelength lambda of light source₁635nm, focal length f 1-3.40, and numerical aperture NA 1-0.50, infinite.

When wavelength lambda of light source₂780nm, focal length f2 is 3.40, and numerical aperture NA2 is 0.50, which is infinite.

In this embodiment, at λ₁The amount of +1 order diffracted light generated is greater than the amount of any one other order diffracted light. Also at λ ₂In the luminous flux of (1), the productThe amount of generated +1 order diffracted light is greater than the amount of any one other order diffracted light.

TABLE 5

Surface number	R	d₁	d₂	n₁	n₂	vd	nd
Surface number	R	d₁	d₂	n₁	n₂	vd	nd	1 (aspherical surface, diffractive surface) 2 (aspherical surface 2)3 glass cover 4	2.160-11.681∞∞	1.801.641.20	1.801.641.20	1.54171.5790	1.53731.5708	5630	1.54381.5830

Coefficient of aspheric surface

Aspherical surface 1 aspherical surface 2

k＝-0.17006 k＝-40.782

A4＝-0.30563×10^-2 A4＝0.73447×10^-2

A6＝-0.45119×10^-3 A6＝0.85177×10^-3

A8＝0.58811×10^-5 A8＝-0.82795×10^-3

A10＝-0.13002×10^-4 A10＝0.23029×10^-3

Coefficient of diffraction surface

b2＝-0.74461×10^-2

b4＝-0.11193×10^-2

b6＝-0.85257×10^-3

b8＝0.50517×10^-3

b10＝-0.11242×10^-3

Examples 6 to 8

Next, examples 6 to 8 will be described. Fig. 23, 30 and 37 show the optical path diagrams of the diffractive light lenses as the objective lenses in examples 6 to 8 under the condition of λ 650nm, respectively. Fig. 24, 31, and 38 show optical path diagrams of the diffractive lenses of examples 6 to 8 under the condition of λ 780nm (NA 0.5), respectively. In addition, in fig. 25, 32, and 39, spherical aberration diagrams of numerical apertures up to 0.60 under the condition of λ 650 ± 10nm are shown for the diffractive lenses in examples 6 to 8, respectively. Fig. 26, 33, and 40 show spherical aberration diagrams of numerical apertures up to 0.50 for the diffractive lenses of examples 6 to 8, respectively, under the condition of λ 780 ± 10 nm. In addition, in fig. 27, fig. 34, and fig. 41, spherical aberration diagrams of numerical apertures up to 0.60 under a condition of λ 780nm for the diffractive light lens in examples 6 to 8 are shown, respectively.

Fig. 28, 35, and 42 show graphs of wavefront aberrations rms for a diffraction lens with λ 650nm in examples 6 to 8, respectively. Fig. 29, 36, and 43 show graphs of wavefront aberrations rms for a diffraction lens with λ 780nm in examples 6 to 8, respectively. In addition, the relationship curves between the amount of diffraction annular zones and the height from the optical axis for the diffractive light lens in example 6-8 are shown in fig. 44, 45, and 46, respectively. Here, the diffraction ring quantity is defined as a value: where the phase difference function is divided by 2 pi.

In examples 6 to 8, as shown in the spherical aberration diagrams, there was almost no aberration for all apertures up to NA0.60 with the wavelength λ of 650 nm. In addition, with the wavelength λ of 780nm, almost no aberration is present up to NA0.50, which is a practically used range, but the spherical aberration is large and becomes dispersed light in a portion NA0.50-0.60 outside this range. Accordingly, an appropriate spot diameter can be obtained for the wavelength λ 780 nm.

The order of which will show the lens data in examples 6-8. In [ table 6] - [ table 8], STO denotes a stop, and IMA denotes an image plane and is expressed in a form including the stop.

Example 6

When the light source wavelength λ is 650nm, the focal length f is 3.33, and the image-side numerical aperture NA is 0.60, which is infinite.

When the light source wavelength λ is 780nm, the focal length f is 3.37, and the image-side numerical aperture NA is 0.50(NA is 0.60), which is infinite. When the beam diameter at an intensity of 13.5% of the 780nm light flux on the image forming face is w, w is 1.20 μm.

In this embodiment, as shown in fig. 44, at the central portion, that is, at a position where the height from the optical axis is almost smaller than half of the effective radius of the luminous flux of λ 1 and the luminous flux of λ 2, many-1 order diffracted rays are generated so as to be larger than the amount of any one other order diffracted ray, and at the peripheral portion, that is, at a position where the height from the optical axis is almost larger than half of the effective radius, many +1 order diffracted rays are generated so as to be larger than the amount of any one other order diffracted ray. However, in the present embodiment, it is possible to generate diffracted light of the same order of higher order by multiplying the pitch of the annular band by an integer instead of diffracted light of the order of-or + 1.

In the present embodiment, as shown in fig. 27, in the second optical information medium, the spherical aberration is +29 μm when NA1 is 0.6, and the spherical aberration is +1 μm when NA2 is 0.5. In addition, in the present embodiment, the pitch of the diffraction part when NA is 0.4 is 14 μm.

TABLE 6

Surface number	R	d	n(λ＝650nm)	n(λ＝780nm)
Surface number	R	d	n(λ＝650nm)	n(λ＝780nm)	OBJSTO2 (aspheric surface 1 diffraction surface) 3 (aspheric surface 2)45IMA	Infinity 2.057515-7.8997731 infinity	Infinity 0.02.21.0287d4d5	1.541131.57789	1.537281.57079

	d4	d5
	d4	d5	For λ 650nm	0.6	0.7500
780nm for λ	1.2	0.35	For λ 650nm	0.6	0.7500

Coefficient of aspheric surface

Aspherical surface 1 aspherical surface 2

k＝-1.7952 k＝-3.452929

A4＝0.51919725×10^-2 A4＝0.15591292×10^-1

A6＝0.10988861×10^-2 A6＝-0.44528738×10^-2

A8＝-0.44386519×10^-3 A8＝0.65423404×10^-3

A10＝5.4053137×10^-5 A10＝-4.7679992×10^-5

Coefficient of diffraction surface

B2＝29.443104

B4＝-14.403683

B6＝3.9425951

B8＝-2.1471955

B10＝0.31859248

Example 7

When the light source wavelength λ is 780nm, the focal length f is 3.37, and the image-side numerical aperture NA is 0.50(NA is 0.60), which is infinite.

In this embodiment, as shown in fig. 45, a lot of +1 order diffracted light is generated in the entire portion thereof so as to be larger in amount than the amount of diffracted light of any other order of the luminous flux of λ 1 and the luminous flux of λ 2. However, in the present embodiment, it is possible to generate higher-order diffracted light of the same order by multiplying the pitch of the annular zone by an integer instead of the + 1-order diffracted light beam.

TABLE 7

Surface number	R	d	n(λ＝650nm)	n(λ＝780nm)
Surface number	R	d	n(λ＝650nm)	n(λ＝780nm)	OBJSTO2 (aspheric surface 1 diffraction surface) 3 (aspheric surface 2)45IMA	Infinity 2.145844-7.706496 infinity	d00.02.21.0326d4d5	1.541131.57789	1.537281.57079

d

d4

d5

For λ 650nm	Infinity(s)	0.60	0.70
For λ 650nm	Infinity(s)	0.60	0.70	780nm for λ	64.5	1.20	0.35

Coefficient of aspheric surface

Aspherical surface 1 aspherical surface 2

k＝-1.801329 k＝-8.871647

A4＝0.1615422×10^-1 A4＝0.1492511×10^-1

A6＝-0.4937969×10^-3 A6＝-0.4447445×10^-2

A8＝0.11038322×10^-3 A8＝0.60067143×10^-3

A10＝-2.1823306×10^-5 A10＝-3.4684206×10^-5

Coefficient of diffraction surface

B2＝-17.150237

B4＝-4.1227045

B6＝1.1902249

B8＝-0.26202222

B10＝0.018845315

Example 8

When the light source wavelength λ is 650nm, the focal length f is 3.33, and the image-side numerical aperture NA is 0.60, infinity.

When the light source wavelength λ is 780nm, the focal length f is 3.35, and the image-side numerical aperture NA is 0.50(NA is 0.60), which is infinite.

(beam diameter with intensity of 13.5% of light flux with wavelength of 780nm on the imaging plane) w ═ 1.27 μm.

In this embodiment, as shown in fig. 46, of the luminous flux of λ 1 and the luminous flux of λ 2, only in the very peripheral portion, many-1 order diffracted rays are generated in an amount larger than that of any one other order, and in the other portion, many +1 order diffracted rays are generated in an amount larger than that of any one other order. However, in the present embodiment, it is possible to generate the higher-order same-order diffracted light by multiplying the pitch of the annular zone by an integer instead of the-or + 1-order diffracted light beam.

In addition, in the present embodiment, as shown in fig. 41, in the second optical information recording medium, the spherical aberration is +68 μm when NA1 is 0.6, and the spherical aberration is +9 μm when NA2 is 0.5.

Further, the pitch of the diffraction part when NA is 0.4 is 61 μm.

TABLE 8

Surface number	R	d	n(λ＝650nm)	n(λ＝780nm)
Surface number	R	d	n(λ＝650nm)	n(λ＝780nm)	OBJSTO2 (aspheric surface 1 diffraction surface) 3 (aspheric surface 2)45IMA	Infinity 2.10598-7.90392 infinity	d00.02.21.0281d4d5	1.541131.57789	1.537281.57079

	d4	d5
	d4	d5	For λ 650nm	0.6	0.70
780nm for λ	1.2	0.34	For λ 650nm	0.6	0.70

Coefficient of aspheric surface

Aspherical surface 1

k＝-1.2532

A4＝0.1007×10^-1

A6＝-0.85849×10^-3

A8＝-0.15773×10^-5

A10＝3.2855×10^-5

Aspherical surface 2

k＝-9.151362

A4＝0.133327×10^-1

A6＝-0.378682×10^-2

A8＝0.3001×10^-3

A10＝4.02221×10⁶

Coefficient of diffraction surface

B2＝3.4251×10^-21

B4＝0.0763977

B6＝-5.5386

B8＝0.05938

B10＝0.2224

Now, the cause of the wavelength fluctuation of the semiconductor laser beam entering one lens will be considered based on examples 6 to 8. Considering that the individual dispersion of the semiconductor laser wavelength is ± 2 to ± 3nm, the width of multimode oscillation is about ± 2nm, and the mode jump for writing is about 2 nm. Here, a case where the spherical aberration of the lens fluctuates due to the wavelength fluctuation of the semiconductor laser, which is also caused by the above-described reason, will be explained.

When the thicknesses of the transparent substrates of the optical discs are different for the two light sources having different wavelengths, respectively, it can be understood from the data relating to example 6 that the lens corrected so as not to have aberration with respect to the infinite light (parallel luminous flux) emitted from the two light sources having different wavelengths has a relatively large spherical aberration, as compared with the wavelength fluctuation of about 10nm of one light source. In example 6, although the wavefront aberration is 0.001 λ rms at a wavelength of 650nm, it is also reduced to about 0.035 λ rms at wavelengths of 640nm and 660 nm. For an optical system with a well-controlled laser wavelength, example 6 can naturally be sufficiently used in practice. In contrast, in the lenses of the following cases: i.e., almost no aberration for infinite light from any one light source and corrected so as to have almost no aberration for finite light (non-parallel luminous flux) from other wavelength light sources, as with the lens in example 7, the spherical aberration fluctuation can be controlled to be very small for a wavelength fluctuation of about 10nm of one light source.

To this order, the capacity fluctuation caused by the temperature of the diffractive optical system (optical system having a diffractive light lens) of the present invention will be explained. First, the wavelength of the semiconductor laser has a tendency to extend by 6nm when the temperature rises by 30 ℃. On the other hand, when the diffractive optical system is composed of a plastic lens, the refractive index has a tendency to be lowered by about 0.003 to 0.004 when the temperature is raised by 30 ℃. In the case of a lens corrected so as not to have an aberration for either of the two wavelengths like in example 6, the factor of the change in the wavelength of the semiconductor laser caused by the temperature change and the factor of the change in the refractive index of the plastic lens caused by the temperature change show the effectiveness of mutual compensation, and make it possible to produce an optical system which is very resistant to the temperature change. In addition, in example 6, even when the raw material was glass, it was possible to produce an optical system having a range allowing temperature variation, and further, even in the case of example 7, with a temperature change of 30 ℃, the wavefront aberration was reduced to about 0.035 λ rms, which is sufficient for temperature compensation in practical use, but the ratio 6 was slightly inferior.

Next, the effect of compensation for the temperature change described above will be further explained. When recording and/or reproducing is performed on two types of optical information recording media having different thicknesses of transparent substrates with two light sources having different wavelengths, the same imaging characteristics as the dedicated objective lens can be obtained because the rms value of wavefront aberration can be made 0.07 or less per wavelength by using one objective lens having a diffraction pattern, even in the case of a numerical aperture required in the information recording surface of each optical disc or in the case where the numerical aperture is equal to or larger than the aforementioned aperture value. In order to make the optical head device inexpensive and compact, a semiconductor laser is generally used as the light source, and a plastic objective lens is generally used as the objective lens.

Plastic materials used as the objective lens are of various types, but their refractive index changes due to temperature and linear expansion coefficient are larger than those of glass. In particular, the change in refractive index due to temperature has an effect on various characteristics of the lens. In the case where a plastic material is used as an optical material of the optical head, a change in refractive index caused by a change in temperature in the vicinity of 25 ℃ is-0.0002/° c-0.00005/° c. In addition, it is-0.0001/° C for most materials with low birefringence. The refractive index of the thermosetting material used as the lens is more greatly changed due to temperature change, and some of them exceed the above range.

Even in the case of a semiconductor laser, the oscillation wavelength depends on temperature, and in the case of a semiconductor laser produced by the current technology, the variation in oscillation wavelength due to a temperature variation in the vicinity of 25 ℃ is 0.05nm/° c-0.5 nm/° c.

When wavefront aberration of light flux for reproducing information on an optical information recording medium or for recording information on an optical information recording medium changes due to temperature to cause an rms value to become 0.07 or more, it is difficult to maintain characteristics as an optical head device. In the case of a high-density optical information medium, in particular, it is necessary to pay attention to the change in wavefront aberration due to temperature. In the case where the wavefront aberration of the plastic lens changes due to a temperature change, a displacement of the focus and a change in the spherical aberration are caused due to this wavefront aberration change, but the latter is more important because the focus control is performed in the optical head device for the former. In this case, when the plastic material satisfies the following relationship

-0.0002/℃＜Δn/ΔT＜-0.00005/℃

When Δ n represents the amount of change in refractive index caused by a change in temperature Δ T (. degree. C.), and when the semiconductor laser light satisfies the following relationship

0.05nm/℃＜Δλ1/ΔT＜0.5nm/℃

When Δ λ 1 represents the change amount of the oscillation wavelength due to the temperature change Δ T, the fluctuation of the wavefront aberration due to the change in the refractive index of the plastic objective lens due to the temperature change and the fluctuation of the wavefront aberration due to the change in the wavelength of the semiconductor laser due to the temperature change are contradictory to each other, and therefore, the effect of compensation can be obtained.

When the amount of change in the cubic spherical aberration component of wavefront aberration due to a change in the ambient temperature for Δ T (° c) is represented by Δ WSA3(λ rms), the amount of change is proportional to the numerical aperture 4 power of the objective lens on the side of the optical information medium and proportional to the focal length f (mm) of the plastic lens for light energy passing through the objective lens, and inversely proportional to the light source wavelength λ (mm) since wavefront aberration is calculated in units of wavelength. Therefore, the following equation is established,

ΔWSA3＝k·(NA)⁴·f·ΔT/λ (a1)

where k represents a quantity dependent on the type of objective lens. Incidentally, at the focal length of 3.36The plastic biaspheric objective lens is optimum in the case of mm, the numerical aperture on the side of the optical information medium being 0.6 and the incident light being a collimated light, as described in "the temperature characteristics of a new optical system with a high quality optical disk" from MOC/GRIN' 97 journal of the technology, volume 5, p40-p 43. It estimates that the wavelength is 650nm, and since the curves in this document show that the WSA3 varies by 0.045 λ rms for a temperature variation of 30 ℃, it is possible to consider the objective lens for DVDs. When the above data is substituted into expression (a1), k is obtained to be 2.2 × 10 ^-6. Although the influence of the wavelength change due to the temperature change is not described, when the change of the oscillation wavelength is small, the influence of the wavelength change due to the temperature change is large in the case of using the objective lens without diffraction.

It is necessary for the optical head device for recording and/or reproducing the relevant DVD that k is not more than the above value. When recording and/or reproducing are performed for two types of optical information recording media having substrates with different thicknesses, in an objective lens having a diffraction pattern, a wavelength change due to a temperature change cannot be ignored. For k, in particular, the value of k varies depending on: focal length, change in refractive index of the plastic material due to temperature change, thickness difference between the transparent substrates, and oscillation wavelength difference between the two light sources. And in example 6, the main cause of the wavelength change of the semiconductor laser due to the temperature change and the main cause of the refractive index change of the plastic lens due to the temperature change both made the compensation effective, and even when the objective lens was a plastic lens, the wavefront aberration change due to the temperature change was small, with the result that k was 2.2 × 10 in the simulation ^-6/° c and k ═ 0.4 × 10^-6/℃。

For k, the range 0.3 < k < 2.2 can be used. Therefore, the following equation can be made from expression (a 1):

k＝ΔWSA3·λ/{f·(NA1)⁴·ΔT(NA)} (a2)

therefore, the following holds:

0.3×10^-6/℃＜ΔWSA3·λ/{f·(NA1)⁴·ΔT}＜2.2×10^-6/℃ (a3)

in the expression (a3), when the value of k exceeds the upper limit, it is difficult to maintain the characteristics of the optical head device due to temperature change, and when it exceeds the lower limit, it may be difficult to maintain the characteristics of the optical head device with only changing the wavelength, although the various temperature changes are small.

In example 8, the spherical aberration was slightly changed within the allowable range by slightly lowering the efficiency at 780nm wavelength, on the one hand, and by ± 10nm around 650nm wavelength, on the other hand, as compared with example 6. Although the wavefront aberration at the 640nm wavelength or the 660nm wavelength is about 0.035 λ rms in example 6, the wavefront aberration at the 640nm wavelength or the 660nm wavelength can be increased to about 0.020 λ rms in example 8. There are two factors in the trade-off relationship and it is important to have a balance and when it exceeds 0.07 x rms, the lens performance deteriorates and it is difficult to be an optical system on an optical disc.

Now, the relationship between the diffractive power and the lens shape will be described. In fig. 47, the relationship between the diffractive power and the lens shape is illustratively shown. Fig. 47(a) is a lens shape diagram showing that the diffractive power is positive in all portions, and fig. 47(b) is a lens shape diagram showing that the diffractive power is negative in all portions. As shown in fig. 47(c), the lens in fig. 6 is designed so that the diffractive power is negative near the optical axis and becomes positive at half the path. Due to this, the pitch of the diffraction ring zones can be prevented from being too fine. In addition, by designing the lens so as to change the diffractive power from positive to negative in the vicinity of the periphery of the lens as shown in fig. 8, satisfactory aberration can be obtained between the two wavelengths. It may be arranged such that the diffractive power is positive near the optical axis and becomes negative at half the way, as shown in fig. 47 (d).

In fig. 47(c), the diffraction surface has a plurality of engraved diffraction annular zones, and the step portion of the diffraction annular zone close to the optical axis is set to be distant from the optical axis, and the step portion of the diffraction annular zone distant from the optical axis is set to be close to the optical axis. In fig. 47(d), the diffraction surface has a plurality of engraved diffraction annular zones, and the step portion of the diffraction annular zone close to the optical axis is set close to the optical axis, while the step portion of the diffraction annular zone far from the optical axis is set far from the optical axis.

Examples 9 and 10

The objective lenses in examples 9 and 10 have an aspherical shape shown by the expression (a3) on the refractive surface thereof, and example 9 is a finite conjugate type according to two light sources, while example 10 is a specific example of the objective lens related to the second embodiment and is a finite conjugate type according to three light sources. In examples 9 and 10, the diffraction plane is represented by the expression (a1) as a phase difference function Φ B, where the unit is radian.

Fig. 50 and 51 show the optical paths of the objective lens in example 9 for λ 650nm and λ 780 nm. Fig. 52 shows a spherical aberration diagram covering a numerical aperture of 0.60 to the objective lens in example 9 for λ 650 nm. Fig. 53 and 54 show spherical aberration diagrams covering numerical apertures 0.45 and 0.60 of the objective lens in example 9 for λ 780 nm. Fig. 55 and 56 show wavefront aberration diagrams of the objective lens in example 9 for wavelengths λ 650nm and λ 780 nm.

Fig. 57 to 59 show the optical paths of the objective lens in example 10 for λ 650nm, λ 400nm and λ 780 nm. Fig. 60 and 61 show spherical aberration diagrams covering a numerical aperture of 0.65 to the objective lens in example 10 for λ 650nm and λ 400 nm. Fig. 62 and 63 show spherical aberration diagrams covering numerical apertures 0.45 and 0.65 of the objective lens in example 10 for λ 780 nm. Fig. 64 to 66 show wavefront aberration diagrams of the objective lens in example 10 for λ 650nm, λ 400nm and λ 780 nm.

According to each of the objective lenses in examples 9 and 10, in either case, a light flux exceeding NA0.45 in practical use causes a large spherical aberration for light having a wavelength of 780nm, and as a dispersed light, it cannot be used for recording and/or reproduction of information.

The lens data of examples 9 and 10 will be shown below. In tables 9 and 10, r denotes a radius of curvature of the lens, d denotes a distance between surfaces, n denotes a refractive index at each wavelength, and γ denotes an Abbe number. For reference, the refractive index of the d-line (λ 587.6nm) and γ d (Abbe number) will be described. The surface numbers shown include an aperture and, in this example, the space is divided into front and rear positions corresponding to portions of the transparent substrate of the optical disc for convenience.

Example 9

f 3.33 image side NA0.60 magnification-0.194 (650 nm for wavelength)

f-3.35 image side NA0.45(NA0.60) magnification-0.195 (780 nm for wavelength)

TABLE 9

Surface number	r	d	n	n	nd gamma d (ref)
Surface number	r	d	n	n	nd gamma d (ref)	Light source aperture 2 (aspheric surface 1. diffraction surface) 2 (aspheric surface 2)45 image point	·····	20.00.02.21.7467d4d5	1.537711.58030	1.53881.57346	1.5404 56.01.585 29.9

	d4	d5
	d4	d5	For λ 650nm	0.6	0.7500
780nm for λ	1.2	0.3964	For λ 650nm	0.6	0.7500

Aspheric surface 1 k-0.1295292

A4＝-0.045445253

A8＝-0.00011777995

A10＝-5.3843777×10^-5

A12＝-9.0807729×10^-6

Diffraction plane 1B 2 is 0

B4＝-7.6489594

B6＝0.9933123

B8＝-0.28305522

B10＝0.011289605

Aspherical surface 2

A4＝0.019003845

A6＝-0.010002187

A8＝0.004087239

A10＝-0.00085994626

A12＝7.5491556×10^-5

Example 10

f 3.31 image side NA 0.65 magnification-0.203 (650 nm for wavelength)

f-3.14 image NA 0.65 magnification-0.190 (400 nm for wavelength)

f 3.34 image side NA 0.65 magnification-0.205 (780 nm for wavelength)

Watch 10

Surface number	r	d	n(λ＝650nm)	n(λ＝400nm)	n(λ＝780nm)
Surface number	r	d	n(λ＝650nm)	n(λ＝400nm)	n(λ＝780nm)	Light source aperture 2 (aspheric 1 diffraction surface 1)3 (aspheric 2 diffraction surface 2)45 image point	∞∞2.4503599.108348∞∞∞	20.00.02.21.4503d4d5	1.877071.58030	1.922611.62441	1.868901.57346

For λ 650nm

For λ 400nm

780nm for λ

d4	0.6	0.6	1.2
d4	0.6	0.6	1.2	d5	0.7500	0.5540	0.4097

Aspheric surface 1 k-0.08796008

A4＝-0.010351744

A6＝0.0015514472

A8＝-0.00043894535

A10＝5.481801×10^-5

A12＝-4.2588508×10^-6

Diffraction plane 1B 2 is 0

B4＝-61.351934

B6＝5.9668445

B8＝-1.2923244

B10＝0.041773541

Aspheric 2 k-302.6352

A4＝0.002

A6＝-0.0014

A8＝0.0042

A10＝-0.0022

A12＝0.0004

Diffraction plane 2B 2 is 0

B4＝341.19136

B6＝-124.16233

B3＝49.877242

B10＝-5.9599182

Incidentally, the specific example of the objective lens in example 10 can be equivalently used for the third embodiment.

Examples 11 to 14

The objective lenses in examples 11 to 14 have an aspherical shape represented by the expression (a3) on their refractive surfaces. In examples 11 to 13, the diffraction plane is represented by the expression (a1) as a phase difference function Φ B, where the unit is radian. In example 14, the diffraction plane is represented by the expression (a2) as the optical path difference function Φ b, where the unit is mm.

When the objective lens characteristics in each of examples 11 to 14 were obtained, the light source wavelength of the first optical disk (DVD) was set to 650nm, the light source wavelength of the second optical disk (advanced high-density optical disk using blue laser) was set to 400nm, and the transparent substrate thickness t1 of the first and second optical disks was 0.6 mm. The light source wavelength of a third Compact Disc (CD) having a transparent substrate thickness t2, t2 being 1.2mm different from t1, was set to 780 nm. Numerical apertures NA corresponding to light source wavelengths 400nm, 650nm, and 780nm are assumed to be 0.65, and 0.5, respectively.

Example 11

Example 11 is a specific example of an objective lens related to the fourth embodiment, which is configured such that collimated light enters the objective lens. In this example, the square term is not included in the coefficients of the phase difference function, and only coefficients of terms other than the square term are used.

Fig. 68 to 70 show optical path diagrams of the objective lens in example 11 corresponding to λ 650nm, λ 400nm and λ 780nm, respectively. Fig. 71 and 72 show spherical aberration diagrams of the objective lens in example 11 up to a numerical aperture of 0.65 corresponding to λ 650nm and λ 400nm, respectively. Fig. 73 and 74 show spherical aberration diagrams of the objective lens in example 11 up to the numerical aperture of 0.45 and the numerical aperture of 0.65 corresponding to the wavelength λ of 780 nm. Fig. 75 to 77 show spherical aberration diagrams of the objective lens in example 11 corresponding to λ 650nm, λ 400nm and λ 780nm, respectively.

The lens data of example 11 will be presented below. In table 11, r denotes a radius of curvature of the lens, d denotes a distance between surfaces, and n denotes a refractive index at each wavelength. The surface numbers shown include an aperture.

Example 11

f 3.33 image side NA 0.65 (650 nm for wavelength λ)

f ═ 3.15 image side NA 0.65(λ ═ 400nm for wavelength)

f 3.37 image side NA0.45 (780 nm for wavelength)

(NA0.65)

TABLE 11

Surface number	r	d	n(λ＝650nm)	n(λ＝400nm)	n(λ＝780nm)
Surface number	r	d	n(λ＝650nm)	n(λ＝400nm)	n(λ＝780nm)	Aperture 2 (aspheric 1 diffraction surface 1)3 (aspheric 2 diffraction surface 2)45 image point	∞2.1773036.457315∞∞∞	0.02.20.6985d4d5	1.802561.58030	1.844801.62441	1.794981.57346

	For λ 650nm	For λ 400nm	780nm for λ
	For λ 650nm	For λ 400nm	780nm for λ	d4	0.6	0.6	1.2
d5	0.7500	0.6228	0.3995	d4	0.6	0.6	1.2

Aspheric surface 1 k-0.1847301

A4＝-0.0090859227

A6＝0.0016821871

A8＝-0.0071180761

A10＝0.00012406905

A12＝-1.4004589×10^-5

Diffraction plane 1B 2 is 0

B4＝-69.824562

B6＝0.35641549

B8＝0.6877372

B10＝-0.18333885

Aspheric 2 k-186.4056

A4＝0.002

A6＝-0.0014

A8＝0.0042

A10＝-0.0022

A12＝0.0004

Diffraction plane 2B 2 is 0

B4＝745.72117

B6＝-334.75078

B8＝81.232224

B10＝-5.3410176

In the optical head device having the objective lens and the three light sources as in example 11 (and example 12 to be described later), spherical aberration caused by the difference in the thickness of the transparent substrate and chromatic aberration of spherical aberration caused by the difference in the wavelength for each disc can be corrected by designing aspherical coefficients and coefficients of a phase difference function. As shown in fig. 74, in practical use, the outside of the numerical aperture NA0.45 on the third optical disc becomes dispersed light.

Example 12

The objective lens in example 12 has a structure in which divergent light from a limited distance can enter the objective lens. In this example, the square term is not included in the coefficients of the aberration function, and only the coefficients of items other than the square term are used.

Fig. 78 to 80 show optical path diagrams of the objective lens in example 12 corresponding to λ 650nm, λ 400nm and λ 780nm, respectively. Fig. 81 and 82 show spherical aberration diagrams of the objective lens in example 12 up to a numerical aperture of 0.65 corresponding to λ 650nm and λ 400nm, respectively. Fig. 83 and 84 show spherical aberration diagrams of the objective lens in example 12 up to the numerical aperture of 0.45 and the numerical aperture of 0.65 corresponding to the wavelength λ of 780 nm. Fig. 85 to 87 show spherical aberration diagrams of the objective lens in example 12 corresponding to λ 650nm, λ 400nm and λ 780nm, respectively.

The lens data of example 12 will be presented below.

Example 12

f 3.31 image side NA 0.65 magnification-0.203 (650 nm for wavelength)

f-3.14 image NA 0.65 magnification-0.190 (400 nm for wavelength)

f 3.34 image side NA 0.65 magnification-0.205 (780 nm for wavelength)

(NA0.65)

TABLE 12

	For λ 650nm	For λ 400nm	780nm for λ
	For λ 650nm	For λ 400nm	780nm for λ	d4	0.6	0.6	1.2
d5	0.7500	0.5540	0.4097	d4	0.6	0.6	1.2

Aspheric surface 1 k-0.08796008

A4＝-0.010351744

A6＝0.0015514472

A8＝-0.00043894535

A10＝5.481801×10^-5

A12＝-4.2588508×10^-6

Diffraction plane 1B 2 is 0

B4＝-61.351934

B6＝5.9668445

B8＝-1.2923244

B10＝0.041773541

Aspheric 2 k-302.6352

A4＝0.002

A6＝-0.0014

A8＝0.0042

A10＝-0.0022

A12＝0.0004

Diffraction plane 2B 2 is 0

B4＝341.19136

B6＝-124.16233

B8＝49.877242

B10＝-5.9599182

In the optical head device having the objective lens and the three light sources as in example 12, it is possible to correct spherical aberration caused by the difference in the thickness of the transparent substrate and chromatic aberration of spherical aberration caused by the difference in the wavelength for each disc by designing aspherical coefficients and coefficients of the phase difference function. As indicated in fig. 84, in practical use, the outside of the numerical aperture NA0.45 on the third optical disc becomes dispersed light.

Example 13

The objective lens of example 13 is another specific example of the objective lens related to the fourth embodiment, which is configured such that collimated light from an infinite distance can enter the objective lens. In this embodiment, the square term and terms other than the square term are used as coefficients of the diffraction plane phase difference function.

Fig. 88 to 90 show the optical path diagrams of the objective lens in example 13 corresponding to λ 650nm, λ 400nm and λ 780nm, respectively. Fig. 91 and 92 show spherical aberration diagrams of the objective lens in example 13 up to a numerical aperture of 0.60 corresponding to λ 650nm and λ 400nm, respectively. Fig. 93 and 94 show spherical aberration diagrams of the objective lens in example 13 up to the numerical aperture of 0.45 and the numerical aperture of 0.60 corresponding to the wavelength λ of 780 nm. Fig. 95 to 97 show spherical aberration diagrams of the objective lens in example 13 corresponding to λ 650nm, λ 400nm and λ 780nm, respectively.

The lens data of example 13 will be shown below.

Example 13

f 3.31 image side NA 0.60 (650 nm for wavelength λ)

f ═ 3.14 image side NA 0.60(λ ═ 400nm for wavelength)

f 3.34 image side NA0.45 (780 nm for wavelength)

(NA0.60)

Watch 13

Surface number	r	d	n(λ＝650nm)	n(λ＝400nm)	n(λ＝780nm)
Surface number	r	d	n(λ＝650nm)	n(λ＝400nm)	n(λ＝780nm)	Aperture 2 (aspheric 1 diffraction surface 1)3 (aspheric 2 diffraction surface 2)45 image point	∞2.016831-12.04304∞∞∞	0.02.20.7555d4d5	1.537711.58030	1.557651.62441	1.533881.57346

	For λ 650nm	For λ 400nm	780nm for λ
	For λ 650nm	For λ 400nm	780nm for λ	d4	0.6	0.6	1.2
d5	0.7500	0.7500	0.3409	d4	0.6	0.6	1.2

Aspheric surface 1 k-0.3363369

A4＝-0.0025421455

A6＝-0.0010660122

A8＝4.7189743×10^-5

A10＝1.5406396×10^-6

A12＝-7.0004876×10^-6

Diffraction plane 1B 2 ═ 177.66083

B4＝-46.296284

B6＝-6.8014831

B8＝1.6606499

B10＝-0.39075825

Aspheric surface 2 k-43.44262

A4＝0.002

A6＝-0.0014

A8＝0.0042

A10＝-0.0022

A12＝0.0004

Diffraction plane 2B 2 ═ 241.52445

B4＝402.41974

B6＝-191.87213

B8＝64.779696

B10＝-8.6741764

In the present example, spherical aberration caused by the difference in the thickness of the transparent substrate can be corrected and chromatic aberration of spherical aberration caused by the difference in the wavelength for each disc and chromatic aberration along the axis can be corrected because the square term and terms other than the square term are used as the coefficients of the diffraction surface phase difference function. As indicated in fig. 94, in practical use, the outside of the numerical aperture NA0.45 on the third optical disc becomes dispersed light.

Example 14

The objective lens of example 14 is a specific example of the objective lens relating to the sixth embodiment, and has a structure in which collimated light of wavelengths 400nm and 650nm from an infinite distance and divergent light of a wavelength 780nm can enter the objective lens. In this embodiment, the square term and terms other than the square term are used as coefficients of the diffraction plane phase difference function.

Fig. 98 shows the optical path diagram of the objective lens in example 14 corresponding to λ 400 nm. Fig. 99 to 101 show spherical aberration diagrams of the objective lens in example 14 up to a numerical aperture of 0.65 corresponding to λ 400 ± 10nm, λ 650 ± 10nm, and λ 780nm ± 10nm, respectively.

The lens data of example 13 will be shown below.

Example 14

f 3.44 image side NA 0.65 (650 nm for wavelength λ)

f ═ 3.33 image side NA 0.65(λ ═ 400nm for wavelength)

f 3.46 image side NA 0.45 (780 nm for wavelength)

(NA0.65)

TABLE 14

Surface number	r	d	N(λ＝650nm)	n(λ＝400nm)	n(λ＝780nm)
Surface number	r	d	N(λ＝650nm)	n(λ＝400nm)	n(λ＝780nm)	Light source aperture 2 (aspheric 1 diffraction surface 1)3 (aspheric 2)45 image point	∞∞2.15759∞∞∞	d002.4000.976d4d5	1.5611.622	1.5411.578	1.5371.571

	For λ 400nm	For λ 650nm	780nm for λ
	For λ 400nm	For λ 650nm	780nm for λ	d0	∞	∞	75.17
d4	0.6	0.6	1.2	d0	∞	∞	75.17
d4	0.6	0.6	1.2	d5	0.649	0.733	0.532
Focal length	3.33	3.44	3.46	d5	0.649	0.733	0.532

Aspheric surface 1 k-2.0080

A4＝0.18168×10^-1

A6＝-0.91791×10^-3

A8＝0.16455×10^-3

A10＝-0.11115×10^-4

Diffraction plane b2 ═ 0.51589 × 10^-3

b4＝-0.24502×10^-3

b6＝0.49557×10^-4

b8＝-0.14497×10^-4

Aspheric surface 2 k-3.1831

A4＝0.14442×10^-1

A6＝-0.17506×10^-2

A8＝0.21593×10^-4

A10＝0.12534×10^-4

It is mentioned at the outset that the invention is not limited to the examples explained above. Although the diffraction surfaces are constituted on both sides of each objective lens, such a diffraction surface may be provided on a certain face of one optical element in an optical head device of an optical system. In addition, although the annular band-shaped diffraction surface is formed on the entire surface of the lens, it may be partially formed. Further, although the design of the optical system has been improved assuming that the light source wavelength is 400nm and the thickness of the transparent substrate is 0.6mm targeted for an advanced high-density optical disc using a blue laser, the present invention can also be applied to optical discs of other specifications than the above-described specifications.

On its stage, a seventh embodiment of the present invention will be described below.

Fig. 117 shows a schematic configuration diagram of an objective lens and an optical head device including the objective lens in the present embodiment. As shown in fig. 117, the first semiconductor laser 111 and the second semiconductor laser 112 are formed as a unit as a light source. Between the collimator lens 13 and the objective lens 16, a beam splitter 120 is arranged, through which most of the light beam collimated by the collimator lens 13 travels towards the objective lens 16. Further, the beam splitter 120 serving as the optical path changing means changes the optical path of the light flux reflected back on the information recording surface 22 so that the light flux can reach the photodetector 30. The objective lens 16 has a flange portion 16a at its outer peripheral portion so that the objective lens 16 can be easily mounted on the optical head device. In addition, since the surface of the flange portion 16a extends in a direction almost perpendicular to the optical axis of the objective lens 16, the objective lens can be mounted more accurately.

When the first optical disc is reproduced, the light flux emitted from the first semiconductor laser 111 passes through the collimator lens 13 to become a collimated light flux which further passes through the beam splitter 120 to be narrowed down by the aperture 17, and is condensed onto the information recording surface 22 through the objective lens 16 via the transparent substrate 21 of the first optical disc 20. Then, the light flux modulated by the information bits and reflected on the information recording surface 22 is reflected on the beam splitter 120 through the aperture 17, then is diffused by the cylindrical mirror 180, and enters the photodetector 30 through the concave lens 50. Therefore, a read signal of the information recorded on the first optical disc 20 is obtained using the signal output from the light detector 30.

Further, a change in the amount of light due to a change in the shape and position of the light spot on the light detector 30 is detected to detect the focus point and the light track. Based on this detection, the objective lens 16 is moved so that the light flux from the first semiconductor laser device 111 can form an image on the information recording surface 22 of the first optical disc 20 by the two-dimensional adjuster 150, and the objective lens 16 is moved so that the light flux from the first semiconductor laser device 111 can form an image on a specified track.

When the second optical disc is reproduced, the light flux emitted from the second semiconductor laser 112 passes through the collimator lens 13 to become a collimated light flux which further passes through the beam splitter 120 to be narrowed down by the aperture 17, and is condensed onto the information recording surface 22 through the objective lens 16 via the transparent substrate 21 of the second optical disc 20. Then, the light flux modulated by the information bits and reflected on the information recording surface 22 is reflected on the beam splitter 120 through the aperture 17, then is diffused by the cylindrical mirror 180, and enters the photodetector 30 through the concave lens 50. Therefore, a read signal of the information recorded on the first optical disc 20 is obtained using the signal output from the light detector 30. Further, a change in the amount of light due to a change in the shape and position of the light spot on the light detector 30 is detected to detect the focus point and the light track. Based on this detection, the objective lens 16 is moved so that the light flux from the second semiconductor laser 112 can form an image on the information recording surface 22 of the second optical disc 20 by the two-dimensional adjuster 150, and the objective lens 16 is moved so that the light flux from the second semiconductor laser 112 can form an image on a specified track.

The objective lens (diffraction lens) 16 is designed so that its wavefront aberration can be 0.07 x rms or less for each wavelength (λ) of incident light from each semiconductor laser until a numerical aperture is reached (the maximum numerical aperture is larger than that required for recording and/or reproduction of the first and second optical discs). Therefore, the wavefront aberration on the image forming face of each light flux is 0.07 λ rms or less. Therefore, when any optical disk is recorded and/or reproduced, no diffuse light is generated on the image forming surface and the detector 30, resulting in better characteristics for focus error detection and track error detection.

Incidentally, here, a case is assumed where: wherein the first optical disc is a DVD (light source wavelength is 650nm) and the second optical disc is a CD (light source wavelength is 780nm), and this case: the first disc is an advanced high-density disc (light source wavelength is 400nm) and the second disc is a DVD (light source wavelength is 650 nm). In particular, when there is a large difference between the necessary numerical apertures of the two optical discs in the above-described two cases, the light spot is sometimes too small compared to the necessary light spot diameter. In this case, aperture adjustment means as explained elsewhere in this document can be introduced to obtain the desired spot diameter.

As a specific example of the objective lens relating to the seventh embodiment, examples 15, 16, 17, and 18 relating to spherical aberration correction lenses will be explained. In each example, the wavefront aberration is corrected to 0.07 λ rms or less for the maximum numerical aperture. Incidentally, the image side referred to in the following explanation means the optical information recording medium side.

Example 15

Fig. 118 is a diagram showing an optical path of a diffractive light lens (objective lens having a diffractive surface) of the objective lens in representative example 15. Fig. 119 shows a spherical aberration diagram up to a numerical aperture of 0.60 for wavelengths (λ) of 640, 650, and 660nm, relating to the diffractive light lens of example 15. FIG. 120 is a diagram showing an optical path of the diffractive light lens of example 15, in which the thickness of the transparent substrate of the optical information recording medium is larger than that in FIG. 118. Fig. 121 shows a spherical aberration diagram up to a numerical aperture of 0.60 for wavelengths λ 770, 780, and 790nm associated with the diffractive light lens in fig. 120.

According to the diffractive light lens of example 15, as shown in fig. 119, almost no aberration is generated until the aperture of NA0.60 for the wavelength λ of 650 nm. As shown in fig. 120 and 121, in which the transparent substrates are thick, there is almost no aberration up to the NA0.60 aperture for a wavelength λ of 780 nm. Incidentally, for λ 780nm, the specified numerical aperture is 0.45.

As described above, in example 15, the spherical aberration in the case of the wavelength of 780nm, in which the transparent substrate is thicker than in the transparent substrate ratios 1, 6 and 8 of the optical information recording medium, can be corrected to the same numerical aperture (NA0.60) as in the case where the transparent substrate is thinner and the wavelength is 650 nm.

The lens data in example 15 will be shown below.

For the wavelength lambda of 650nm,

focal length f is 3.33 image-side numerical aperture NA is 0.60 infinity (flux after incident collimation)

For the wavelength λ 780nm,

0.60 infinity focal length f-3.38 image-side numerical aperture NA

Watch 15

Surface number	R	d	n(λ＝650nm)	n(λ＝780nm)
Surface number	R	d	n(λ＝650nm)	n(λ＝780nm)	OBJSTO2 (aspheric surface 1 diffraction surface) 3 (aspheric surface 2)45	Infinite 2.06085-6.98986 infinite	Infinity 0.02.21.059d4d5	1.541131.57787	1.537281.57084

	d4	d5
	d4	d5	For λ 650nm	0.6	0.700
780nm for λ	1.2	0.364	For λ 650nm	0.6	0.700

Coefficient of aspheric surface

Aspheric surface 1 k-1.0358

A4＝4.8632×10^-3

A6＝5.3832×10^-4

A8＝-1.5773×10^-4

A10＝3.8683×10^-7

Aspheric 2 k-9.256352

A4＝1.5887×10^-2

A6＝-5.97422×10^-3

A8＝1.11613×10^-3

A10＝-9.39682×10^-5

Coefficient of diffraction surface (standard wavelength 650nm)

b2＝6.000×10^-3

b4＝-1.317×10^-3

b6＝1.5274×10^-4

b8＝-6.5757×10^-5

b10＝6.2211×10^-6

Example 16

Fig. 122 is a diagram showing an optical path of a diffractive light lens (objective lens having a diffractive surface) of the objective lens in representative example 16. Fig. 123 shows a spherical aberration diagram up to a numerical aperture of 0.60 for wavelengths (λ) of 640, 650, and 660nm, relating to the diffractive light lens of example 16. FIG. 124 is a light path diagram of the diffractive light lens of example 16, in which the thickness of the transparent substrate of the optical information recording medium is larger than that in FIG. 122. Fig. 125 shows a spherical aberration diagram up to a numerical aperture of 0.60 for wavelengths λ 770, 780, and 790nm associated with the diffractive light lens in fig. 124.

According to the diffractive light lens of example 16, as shown in fig. 123, almost no aberration is generated until the aperture NA0.60 for the wavelength λ of 650 nm. As shown in fig. 124 and 125, the transparent substrates therein are thick, and almost no aberration occurs until the NA0.60 aperture for a wavelength λ of 780 nm. Incidentally, for λ 780nm, the specified numerical aperture is 0.45.

As described above, in example 16, the spherical aberration in the case of the wavelength of 780nm, in which the transparent substrate is thicker than in the transparent substrate ratios 1, 6 and 8 of the optical information recording medium, can be corrected to the same numerical aperture (NA0.60) as in the case where the transparent substrate is thinner and the wavelength is 650 nm. Incidentally, in examples 15 and 16, with respect to correcting spherical aberration caused by the difference in thickness of the transparent substrate up to NA0.6, powerful correction of spherical aberration by diffraction is required. For this reason, the annular region pitch is reduced, but the reduction in pitch is reduced by making the diffracted paraxial power negative.

The lens data in example 16 will be shown below.

For the wavelength lambda of 650nm,

the focal length f is 3.33 and the image-side numerical aperture NA is 0.60 infinity (flux after incident collimation) for a wavelength λ of 780nm,

0.60 infinity focal length f-3.36 image-side numerical aperture NA

TABLE 16

Surface number	R	d	n(λ＝650nm)	n(λ＝780nm)
Surface number	R	d	n(λ＝650nm)	n(λ＝780nm)	OBJSTO2 (aspheric surface 1 diffraction surface) 3 (aspheric surface 2)45	Infinite 2.09216-7.49521 infinite	Infinity 0.02.2001.024d4d5	1.541131.57787	1.537281.57084

	d4	d5
	d4	d5	For λ 650nm	0.6	0.699
780nm for λ	1.2	0.345	For λ 650nm	0.6	0.699

Coefficient of aspheric surface

Aspheric surface 1 k-1.1331

A4＝4.5375×10^-3

A6＝1.2964×10^-3

A8＝-3.6164×10^-4

A10＝2.0765×10^-5

Aspheric 2 k-4.356298

A4＝1.57427×10^-2

A6＝-4.91198×10^-3

A8＝7.72605×10^-4

A10＝-5.75456×10^-5

Coefficient of diffraction surface (standard wavelength 650nm)

b2＝2.1665×10^-3

b4＝-2.0272×10^-3

b6＝5.5178×10^-4

b8＝-1.8391×10^-4

b10＝1.8148×10^-5

Example 17

Fig. 126 is a diagram showing an optical path of a diffractive light lens (objective lens having a diffractive surface) of the objective lens in representative example 17. Fig. 127 shows a spherical aberration diagram up to a numerical aperture of 0.60 in the case where the wavelength (λ) is 640, 650, and 660nm, relating to the diffractive light lens of example 17. FIG. 128 is a light path diagram of the diffractive light lens of example 17, in which the thickness of the transparent substrate of the optical information recording medium is larger than that in FIG. 126. Fig. 129 shows a spherical aberration diagram up to a numerical aperture of 0.60 for wavelengths λ 770, 780, and 790nm associated with the diffractive light lens in fig. 128.

According to the diffractive light lens of example 17, as shown in fig. 127, almost no aberration occurs in all apertures up to 0.60 with respect to the wavelength λ of 650 nm. As shown in fig. 128 and 129, in which the transparent substrates are thick, all apertures up to NA0.60 have almost no aberration for a wavelength λ of 780 nm. Incidentally, for λ 780nm, the specified numerical aperture is 0.45. In each of examples 15 to 17, the axial chromatic aberrations are different from each other, and the pitches of the annular regions are also different from each other.

As described above, in example 17, the spherical aberration in the case of the wavelength of 780nm, in which the transparent substrate is thicker in the transparent substrate ratios 1, 6 and 8 of the optical information recording medium, can be corrected to the same numerical aperture (NA0.60) as in the case where the transparent substrate is thinner and the wavelength is 650 nm.

The lens data in example 17 will be shown below.

For the wavelength lambda of 650nm,

0.60 infinity focal length f-3.33 image-side numerical aperture NA

For the wavelength λ 780nm,

0.60 infinity focal length f-3.34 image-side numerical aperture NA

TABLE 17

Surface number	R	d	n(λ＝650nm)	n(λ＝780nm)
Surface number	R	d	n(λ＝650nm)	n(λ＝780nm)	OBJSTO2 (aspheric surface 1 diffraction surface) 3 (aspheric surface 2)45	Infinite 2.14757-7.74682 infinite	Infinity 2.2001.0333d4d5	1.541131.57787	1.537281.57084

	d4	d5
	d4	d5	For λ 650nm	0.6	0.700
780nm for λ	1.2	0.327	For λ 650nm	0.6	0.700

Coefficient of aspheric surface

Aspheric surface 1 k-1.0751

A4＝5.0732×10^-3

A6＝4.3722×10^-4

A8＝-1.4774×10^-4

A10＝9.6694×10^-7

Aspheric 2 k-10.41411

A4＝1.59463×10^-2

A6＝-6.02963×10^-3

A8＝1.11268×10^-3

A10＝-9.3151×10^-5

Coefficient of diffraction surface (standard wavelength 650nm)

b2＝-2.000×10^-3

b4＝-1.4462×10^-3

b6＝1.1331×10^-4

b8＝-6.6211×10^-5

b10＝6.8220×10^-6

Example 18

Fig. 130 is a diagram showing an optical path of a diffractive light lens (objective lens having a diffractive surface) of the objective lens in representative example 18. Fig. 131 shows a spherical aberration diagram up to a numerical aperture of 0.70 for wavelengths (λ) of 390, 400 and 410nm, relating to the diffractive light lens of example 18. FIG. 132 is a diagram showing an optical path of the diffractive light lens of example 18, in which the thickness of the transparent substrate of the optical information recording medium is larger than that in FIG. 130. Fig. 133 shows a spherical aberration diagram up to a numerical aperture of 0.70 at wavelengths λ of 640, 650, and 660nm associated with the diffractive light lens in fig. 132.

According to the diffractive light lens of example 18, as shown in fig. 131, almost no aberration occurs in all apertures up to NA0.70 with respect to the wavelength λ of 400 nm. As shown in fig. 132 and 133, in which the transparent substrates are thick, almost no aberration is generated in all apertures up to NA0.70 for a wavelength λ of 650 nm.

As described above, in example 17, the spherical aberration in the case of the wavelength of 650nm, in which the transparent substrate is thicker than in the transparent substrate ratios 1, 6 and 8 of the optical information recording medium, can be corrected to the same numerical aperture (NA0.70) as in the case of the wavelength of 400nm, in which the transparent substrate is thinner.

The lens data in example 18 will be shown below.

For the case of a wavelength lambda of 400nm,

focal length f is 3.33 image side numerical aperture NA is 0.70 infinity

For the wavelength lambda of 650nm,

0.70 infinity focal length f-3.34 image side numerical aperture NA

Watch 18

Surface number	R	d	n(λ＝650nm)	n(λ＝650nm)
Surface number	R	d	n(λ＝650nm)	n(λ＝650nm)	OBJSTO2 (aspherical surface 1 diffractive surface) 3 (aspherical surface 2)45	Infinite 2.65858-15.86969 infinite	Infinity 2.401.297d4d5	1.716571.62158	1.689871.57787

	d4	d5
	d4	d5	For λ 650nm	0.1	0.704
780nm for λ	0.6	0.469	For λ 650nm	0.1	0.704

Coefficient of aspheric surface

Aspheric surface 1K ═ 0.0

A4＝-7.9616×10^-4

A6＝-5.7265×10^-4

A8＝8.3209×10^-5

A10＝-4.1599×10^-5

Aspheric 2K ═ 0.0

A4＝3.11131×10^-2

A6＝-1.18548×10^-2

A8＝1.63937×10^-3

A10＝-6.60514×10^-5

Coefficient of diffraction surface (Standard wavelength 400nm)

b2＝-1.4046×10^-3

b4＝-8.6959×10^-4

b6＝2.3488×10^-4

b8＝-5.2455×10^-5

b10＝3.6385×10^-6

To this end, the pitches of the plurality of annular zones of the diffractive light lens in each of examples 1 to 3 and examples 14 to 18 will be explained. Each of these annular zones is constructed so as to be in the form of a concentric circle whose center is the optical axis, and the value of the interval Pf (mm) of the annular zone corresponds to the maximum numerical aperture of the image side lens, and the intervals Pf (mm) of the annular zones and ((Ph/Pf) -2) of the annular zones corresponding to the numerical aperture representing half the maximum numerical aperture are shown in table 19.

Watch 19

Examples of the present invention	Pf	Ph	Ph/Pf-2
Examples of the present invention	Pf	Ph	Ph/Pf-2	1231415161718	0.0090.0670.0120.0390.0270.0140.0100.011	0.1100.2550.0320.2210.0910.3530.0650.060	10.21.80.673.71.423.24.53.5

0.4≤|(Ph/Pf)-2|≤25 (b1)

According to further studies by the present inventors, it has been found that when the aforementioned expression (b1) is satisfied, that is, when the value of | (Ph/Pf) -2| is not less than the lower limit value of the expression, the diffraction behavior that corrects the higher-order spherical aberration is not attenuated, and therefore, the difference in spherical aberration between the two aforementioned wavelengths caused by the difference in thickness of the transparent substrate can be corrected by this diffraction behavior, and when the aforementioned value is not more than the upper limit value, a portion where the diffraction annular zone pitch is too small is hardly generated, and therefore a lens having high diffraction efficiency can be produced.

With respect to the above-described relational expressions, the following expression (b2) is preferable, and the expression (b3) is more preferable.

0.8≤|(Ph/Pf)-2|≤0.6 (b2)

1.2≤|(Ph/Pf)-2|≤2.0 (b3)

Next, an eighth embodiment of the present invention will be explained.

The numerical aperture NA1 necessary for the objective lens on the optical information recording medium side when recording and reproducing DVDs by using a light source with a wavelength of 650nm is about 0.6, while the numerical aperture NA2 necessary for the objective lens on the optical information recording medium side when reproducing CDs by using a light source with a wavelength of 780nm is about 0.45 (0.5 at the time of recording). Therefore, a diffraction pattern for correcting the above aberration up to the numerical aperture NA1 is not indispensable.

In addition, since the depth of focus is large and the amount of spherical aberration is small, the diffraction pattern is not indispensable in the vicinity of the optical axis.

By forming the diffraction pattern on the necessary and minimum portions and by making the remaining portions the refractive surface, damage of the tool in the metal molding process can be prevented, thereby improving the release characteristics, and deterioration of the capacity, which is caused by: when there is a difference in thickness of the discs caused by the light converging point being narrower than that required on the CD side, or when the discs are tilted.

For this purpose, the diffraction pattern of the objective lens needs to be rotationally symmetric with respect to the optical axis, and the following condition needs to be satisfied: when, for the luminous flux emitted from the first light source, the positive principal diffracted beam from the periphery of the diffraction pattern circle on the objective lens farthest from the optical axis is converted into the luminous flux with numerical aperture NAH1 on the optical information recording medium side, and when, for the luminous flux emitted from the first light source, the positive principal diffracted beam from the periphery of the diffraction pattern circle on the objective lens closest to the optical axis is converted into the luminous flux with numerical aperture NAL1 on the optical information recording medium side,

NAH1＜NA1

0≤NAL1≤NA2

When the first optical information recording medium is a DVD, the wavelength λ 1 of the first light source is 650nm, the second optical information recording medium is a CD, and the wavelength λ 2 of the second light source is 780nm, then it is preferable that: NAH1 from 0.43 to 0.55, NAL1 from 0.10 to 0.40.

The objective lens associated with the portion having the diffraction pattern is optically designed so that the positive principal diffracted beam of the light flux entering the objective lens from the first light source can be a light converging point with little aberration. On the other hand, when the objective lens is optically designed with respect to a portion having no diffraction pattern, the light flux from the first light source entering the objective lens can be a light converging point having almost no aberration.

It is necessary to roughly coincide the light converging position in both cases. In addition, it is important that the phases of each light flux coincide with each other. Incidentally, as for the phase, when k represents a small integer, the light convergence characteristics hardly change under the condition of the designed wavelength in spite of a deviation of 2k pi, but when the absolute value of | k | is large, the light convergence characteristics easily change due to wavelength fluctuation. Preferably, | k | is in the range of 1-10.

In the light flux emitted from the second light source, in this case, the positive principal diffracted light beam from the periphery of the circle of the diffraction pattern farthest from the optical axis on the objective lens is converted into the light flux whose numerical aperture on the optical information recording medium side is NAH2, and at the same time, the positive principal diffracted light beam from the periphery of the circle of the diffraction pattern closest to the optical axis on the objective lens is converted into the light flux whose numerical aperture on the optical information recording medium side is NAL 2.

Spherical aberration of the light fluxes passing through the objective lens is established so that the light converging position and the phase difference of each light flux from the portion having the diffraction pattern and the light flux from the portion having no diffraction pattern can be optimized for each light flux, and therefore, by using the light flux having a numerical aperture NAH2 or less passing through the objective lens among the light fluxes emitted from the second light source, a light spot capable of performing recording and reproduction of the second optical information recording medium can be formed on the information recording surface of the optical information recording medium.

In practice, it is preferable that the wavefront aberration at the best image point through the transparent substrate of the first optical information recording medium is 0.07 λ rms or less for a luminous flux having a numerical aperture NA1 or less passing through the objective lens from among the luminous fluxes emitted from the first light source, and the wavefront aberration at the best image point through the transparent substrate of the second optical information recording medium is 0.07 λ rms or less for a luminous flux having a numerical aperture NAH2 or less passing through the objective lens from among the luminous fluxes emitted from the second light source.

Incidentally, it is particularly preferable that, of the luminous flux emitted from the first light source, the luminous flux having a numerical aperture NA1 or less passing through the objective lens, the spherical aberration component of the wavefront aberration at the best image point through the transparent substrate of the first optical information recording medium is 0.05 λ rms or less.

When the optical head device is made such that: wherein at least one collimator lens is provided between the first light source and the second light source and between the second light source and the objective lens, whereby each light flux entering the objective lens from the first light source and each light flux entering the objective lens from the second light source are collimated light, thereby easily adjusting the optical head.

In addition, the cost of the optical head device can be reduced by using one collimator lens for the light fluxes emitted from the first light source and the second light source, respectively.

Incidentally, when each of the first light source and the second light source is a separate unit, for the collimator lens, the position of each light source may be set so that each light flux may be parallel to each other.

When the first light source and the second light source are in the same unit, the light beams incident into the objective lens may be made parallel to each other by appropriately setting the positional difference of the two light sources in the light beam direction, or also such that the light beams incident into the objective lens are made parallel to each other by using one light source for which the chromatic aberration of the collimator lens is optimal when adjustment is not possible.

In addition, the light flux entering the objective lens may be either a convergent light flux or a divergent light flux, and the spherical aberration amount corrected by the diffraction pattern may be reduced by making the divergence of the light flux entering the objective lens from the second light source higher than the divergence of the light flux entering the objective lens from the first light source, thereby generating the spherical aberration based on the difference in divergence.

Fig. 114 is a schematic diagram in which the numerical aperture NAH2 is the same as the numerical aperture NAL2, and spherical aberration of light flux of light energy emitted from the second light source through the second optical information recording medium (CD) transparent substrate is shown on the graph for the following cases: a case where the axial chromatic aberration is not corrected and a case where the paraxial chromatic aberration (Δ fB ═ 0) is corrected.

When not corrected by the diffraction pattern, the converging position of the light flux for reproducing the second optical information recording medium having NAH2 or less is at point B, and after the light energy is corrected by the diffraction pattern so that Δ fB is almost 0, it is converged at point a. However, outside NAH2, no correction is made by the diffraction pattern, and its aberration shows the aberration curve S only by the refractive surface.

As is apparent from the figure, the gap between the convergence point of the light flux and the spherical aberration in NAH2 increases the correction amount Δ fB of paraxial chromatic aberration, and the position where the dispersed light component from NAH2 to NA1 is converged is greatly distant from the convergence position of the light flux for the reproduction of the second optical information recording medium in the case of NAH2 or less. The influence of the diffuse light component on the photodetector is small.

In addition, since paraxial chromatic aberration is corrected at λ 1 and λ 2, paraxial chromatic aberration is small even in the vicinity of λ 1 and λ 2, and even when the oscillation wavelength is changed due to fluctuation of laser power in recording information on an optical information recording medium, the focus is hardly moved, and high-speed recording is made possible.

In order to make the position where the dispersed light component from NAH2 to NA1 converges and the position where the light flux for NAH2 or less converges distant from each other, the aberration-corrected state as shown in fig. 115 can be obtained by designing the second diffraction pattern so that the second diffraction pattern is located outside the above-mentioned diffraction pattern, and therefore, for the light flux from the first light source, the positive principal diffracted light of the second diffraction pattern converges at the above-mentioned converging position, while the light from the second light source is transmitted through the second diffraction pattern without being diffracted thereby.

That is, fig. 115(a) shows a corrected aberration state for the light flux emitted from the first light source, in which a relatively large aberration generated by the established diffraction surface is made to be free from aberration by the correction effect for the positive principal diffracted rays of NAH1 or more and NAH1 or less, and the light flux is converged at the converging position. However, as shown in fig. 115(b), of the light fluxes emitted by the second light source, the light flux passing through the diffraction pattern outside the NAH2 is zeroth-order light that is not subjected to diffraction. Therefore, in its aberration-corrected state, the aberration that is not corrected by the diffraction pattern appears in the original appearance. Therefore, the spherical aberration gap at NAH2 becomes large, and the convergence position of the dispersed light component is greatly distant from the convergence position of the light flux for information reproduction. Therefore, the influence of the dispersed light component on the photodetector is small.

The second diffraction pattern may also be designed such that the light flux from the first light source may not be diffracted by the second diffraction pattern, and the light flux from the second light source may mainly become negative primary diffracted light. Due to this, when spherical aberration of light flux ranging from NAH2 to NA1 caused by diffraction is amplified, spherical aberration of light flux passing through the second optical information recording medium transparent substrate with a numerical aperture of NAH2 or less can be corrected appropriately for the second light source as shown in fig. 113, and on the other hand, spherical aberration of amplified light flux outside NAH2 can be made larger. As a result, as shown in fig. 116(b), the spherical aberration gap at NAH2 becomes large, and the convergence position of the dispersed light component is greatly distant from the convergence position of the light flux for information reproduction. Therefore, the influence of the dispersed light component on the photodetector is small.

In the same manner, by providing an aperture adjusting means in the optical path from the light source to the objective lens, the aperture adjusting means transmits the light flux from the first light source and does not transmit the light flux passing through the region opposite to the optical axis of the first diffraction pattern among the light fluxes from the second light source, and thus, by reducing the dispersed light component reaching the photodetector, the influence of the dispersed light component can be made small.

With this aperture adjusting means, after the output luminous flux from the first light source and the output luminous flux from the second light source are combined by a light combining means, an annular band filter which transmits the luminous flux from the first light source and reflects or absorbs the luminous flux from the second light source through the region opposite to the optical axis on the first diffraction pattern may be arranged in the light path.

For such a filter, for example, a dichroic filter using a plurality of layers may be used. It is of course possible to have the filter effect described above on either side of the objective lens.

The aperture adjustment means may also be an annular band filter: it can transmit the luminous flux from the first light source while causing the luminous flux of the second light source light flux passing through the region opposite to the optical axis of the diffraction pattern to be diffracted.

The first optical head device to the seventh optical head device relating to the eighth embodiment of the present invention will be explained in detail with reference to the drawings.

In the first optical head device shown in fig. 102, there are a semiconductor laser 111 representing a first light source for reproduction of a first optical disc, and a semiconductor laser 112 for reproduction of a second optical disc.

First, when the first optical disc is reproduced, a light beam is emitted from the first semiconductor laser 111, the emitted light beam is transmitted through the beam splitter 190 representing a combining means for emitting light beams from the

semiconductor lasers

111 and 112, and then transmitted through the polarization beam splitter 120, the collimator lens 130, and the 1/4 wavelength plate 140 to become a circularly polarized and collimated light flux. This light flux is narrowed by the aperture 170 and condensed on the information recording surface 220 by the objective lens 160 via the transparent substrate 210 of the first optical disc 200.

This light flux modulated by the information bits and reflected by the information recording surface 220 is re-order-transmitted via the objective lens 160, the

aperture

170, 1/4 wavelength plate 140 and the collimator lens 130 into the polarizing beam splitter 120, where the light flux is reflected and astigmatic by the cylindrical lens 18. Then, the light flux enters the photodetector 300, and a signal output from the detector is used to obtain a signal for reading out information recorded on the first optical disc 200.

A change in the amount of light due to a change in the configuration and position of the light spot on the light detector 300 is detected to perform focus detection and tracking detection. Based on this detection, the two-dimensional actuator 150 moves the objective lens 160 so that the light flux from the first semiconductor laser 111 can form an image on the recording surface 220 of the first optical disc 200, and moves the objective lens 160 so that the light flux from the semiconductor laser 111 can form an image on a specified track.

When reproducing the second optical disc, a light is emitted from the second semiconductor laser 112, the emitted light beam is reflected on the beam splitter 190 representing a combination means of the light beams, and is condensed on the information recording surface 220 via the polarizing beam splitter 120, the collimator lenses 130, the 1/4 wavelength plate 140, and the objective lens 160, and via the transparent substrate 210 of the second optical disc 200, in the same manner as the light flux from the first semiconductor laser 111.

This light flux modulated by the information bits and reflected by the information recording surface 220 is re-ordered into the optical detector 300 via the objective lens 160, the

aperture

170, 1/4 wavelength plate 14, the collimator lens 130, the polarization beam splitter 120, and the cylindrical lens 18, and the signal output from the optical detector is used to obtain a signal for reading out the information recorded on the second optical disc 200.

In the same manner as in the case of the first optical disc, a change in the amount of light due to a change in the shape and position of the light spot on the light detector 300 is detected to perform focus detection and tracking detection, and the two-dimensional adjuster 150 moves the objective lens 160 for focusing and tracking.

The second pickup in fig. 103 has a structure suitable for an optical system for recording and reproduction, and one case of reproduction will be explained below. Incidentally, in the following examples, the same reference numerals are given to the same parts as those of the optical head device in fig. 102.

When the first optical disc is reproduced, a light beam is emitted from the first semiconductor laser 111, the emitted light beam is reflected by the polarization beam splitter 121 and becomes circularly polarized collimated light via the collimator lenses 131 and the 1/4 wavelength plate 141. It is further transmitted through the beam splitter 190 representing the light synthesizing means, then cut off by the aperture 170, and converged on the information recording surface 220 by the objective lens 160 through the transparent substrate 210 of the first optical disc 200.

This light flux modulated by the information bits and reflected on the information recording surface 220 is re-order-transmitted via the

beam splitters

190 and 1/4, the wavelength plate 141 and the collimator lens 131 and enters the polarization beam splitter 121 via the objective lens 160 and the aperture 170, where the light flux is astigmatic while passing through the polarization beam splitter 120. Then, the light flux enters the photodetector 301, where a signal for reading out the information recorded on the first optical disc 200 is obtained using the signal outputted therefrom.

A change in the amount of light due to a change in the shape and position of the light spot on the photodetector 301 is detected to perform focus detection and tracking detection. Based on this detection, the two-dimensional actuator 150 moves the objective lens 160 so that the light flux from the first semiconductor laser 111 can form an image on the recording surface 220 of the second optical disc 200, and moves the objective lens 160 so that the light flux from the semiconductor laser 111 can form an image on a prescribed track.

When the second optical disc is reproduced, a beam of light is emitted from the second semiconductor laser 112, the emitted beam of light is reflected by the polarization beam splitter 122 and becomes circularly polarized collimated light via the collimator lenses 132 and the 1/4 wavelength plate 142. It is further transmitted through a beam splitter 190 representing a light synthesizing device and then condensed on an information recording surface 220 by an aperture 170 and an objective lens 160 through a transparent substrate 210 of a first optical disc 200.

This light flux modulated by the information bits and reflected at the information recording surface 220 is re-order reflected on the beam splitter 190 via the objective lens 160 and the aperture 170, and is transmitted via the 1/4 wavelength plate 142 and the collimator lens 132 and enters the polarization beam splitter 122 where the light flux is astigmatic as it passes through in the polarization beam splitter 122. Then, the light flux enters the photodetector 302, where a signal for reading out information recorded on the first optical disc 200 is obtained using a signal output therefrom.

A change in the amount of light due to a change in the shape and position of the light spot on the light detector 302 is detected to perform focus detection and tracking detection. Based on this detection, the two-dimensional actuator 150 moves the objective lens 160 so that the light flux from the second semiconductor laser 112 can form an image on the recording surface 220 of the second optical disc 200, and moves the objective lens 160 so that the light flux from the semiconductor laser 112 can form an image on a prescribed track, as in the foregoing process.

The third pickup in fig. 104 has a structure suitable for an optical system for recording and reproduction, and one case of reproduction will be explained below.

When the first optical disc is reproduced, a light beam is emitted from the first semiconductor laser 111, the emitted light beam is transmitted through the coupling lens 60 that makes the beam divergence of the divergent light source small, the beam splitter 190 representing the light combining means, and the beam splitter 120, and is further transmitted through the collimator lenses 130 and the 1/4 wavelength plate 140 to become circularly polarized collimated light. It is then cut off by the aperture 170 and converged on the information recording surface 220 by the objective lens 160 via the transparent substrate 210 of the first optical disc 200.

This light flux modulated by the information bits and reflected by the information recording surface 220 is re-order-transmitted by the 1/4 wavelength plate 140 and the collimator lens 130 via the objective lens 160 and the aperture 170 and enters the polarizing beam splitter 120 where it is reflected and astigmatic by the cylindrical lens 180. Then, the light flux enters the photodetector 301 through the concave lens 50, where a signal for reading out information recorded on the first optical disc 200 is obtained using a signal output therefrom.

A change in the amount of light due to a change in the shape and position of the light spot on the photodetector 301 is detected, and focus detection and tracking detection are performed. Based on this detection, the two-dimensional actuator 150 moves the objective lens 160 so that the light flux from the first semiconductor laser 111 can form an image on the recording surface 220 of the second optical disc 200, and moves the objective lens 160 so that the light flux from the semiconductor laser 111 can form an image on a prescribed track.

In the second semiconductor laser 112 for reproducing the second optical disc, the laser/detector combination unit 400, the optical detector 302, and the hologram 230 are integrated. "Unit" or "integrated" means that the integrated components and devices can be securely mounted in an optical head apparatus, and the unit can be installed as one part when the apparatus is assembled.

The light flux emitted from the second semiconductor laser device 112 is transmitted through the hologram 230, then reflected on the beam splitter 190 representing the light combining means, and transmitted through the beam splitter 120, the collimator lens 130, and the 1/4 wavelength plate 140 to become collimated light. It is further converged on the information recording surface 220 via the aperture 170, the objective lens 160 and via the transparent substrate 210 of the second optical disc 200.

This light flux modulated by the information bits and reflected at the information recording surface 220 is re-order-transmitted by the 1/4 wavelength plate 140, the collimator lens 130 and the beam splitter 120 via the objective lens 160 and the aperture 170, then reflected in the beam splitter 190 and diffracted by the hologram 230, and enters the optical detector 302 where a signal for reading out the information recorded on the first optical disc 200 is obtained using the signal output therefrom.

The focus detection and the tracking detection are performed by detecting a change in the amount of light due to a change in the shape and position of the light spot on the light detector 302, so that the objective lens 160 is moved by the two-dimensional actuator 150 for focus and tracking.

When reproducing the first optical disc located in the fourth optical head device in fig. 105, the laser/detector combination unit 410, the photodetector 301, and the hologram 231 are integrated and become the first semiconductor laser device 111, and the light flux emitted from the first semiconductor laser device 111 passes through the hologram 231 and then is transmitted through the beam splitter 190 and the collimator lens 130 representing the light combining means to become a collimated light flux, which is further reduced in aperture by the aperture 170, so that it is condensed on the information recording surface 220 by the objective lens 160 via the transparent substrate 210 of the second optical disc 200.

This light flux modulated by the information bits and reflected on the information recording surface 220 is re-transmitted by the collimator lens 130 and the beam splitter 190 via the objective lens 160 and the aperture 170, and then diffracted by the hologram 230 to enter the photodetector 301, where a signal for reading out the information recorded on the first optical disc 200 is obtained using a signal output therefrom.

The focus detection and the tracking detection are performed by detecting a change in the amount of light due to a change in the shape and position of the light spot on the light detector 302, so that the objective lens 160 is moved by the two-dimensional adjuster 150 for focusing and tracking.

When reproducing the second optical disc, the laser/detector combination unit 42, the photodetector 302, and the hologram 232 are integrated into the second semiconductor laser 112 in fig. 105, and the luminous flux emitted from the second semiconductor laser 112 passes through the hologram 232, is then reflected on the beam splitter 190 representing the light combining means and transmitted through the collimator lens 130 to become a collimated luminous flux, and is further condensed on the information recording surface 220 through the objective lens 160 and the transparent substrate 210 of the second optical disc 200.

This light flux modulated by the information bits and reflected by the information recording surface 220 is re-order transmitted by the collimator lens 130 via the objective lens 160 and the aperture 170 and reflected on the beam splitter 190, and then diffracted by the hologram 230 to enter the optical detector 302 where a signal for reading out the information recorded on the first optical disc 200 is obtained using a signal output therefrom.

Focus detection and tracking detection are performed by detecting a change in the amount of light due to a change in the shape and position of the light spot on the light detector 302, and based on this detection, the objective lens 160 is moved by the two-dimensional adjuster 150 for focusing and tracking.

In the optical head device shown in fig. 106, the first semiconductor laser 111, the second semiconductor laser 112, the photodetector 30, and the hologram 230 are integrated into a laser/detector combining unit 430.

When the first optical disc is reproduced, the light flux emitted from the first semiconductor laser 111 is transmitted by the hologram 230 and the collimator lens 130, becomes collimated light, is reduced in aperture by the aperture 170, and is condensed on the information recording surface 220 by the objective lens 160 via the transparent substrate 210 of the first optical disc 200.

This light flux modulated by the information bits and reflected by the information recording surface 220 is re-order-transmitted by the collimator lens 130 via the objective lens 160 and the aperture 170 and diffracted by the hologram 230 to enter the optical detector 300, where a signal for reading out the information recorded on the first optical disc 200 is obtained using a signal output therefrom.

Focus detection and tracking detection are performed by detecting a change in the amount of light due to a change in the composition and position of the light spot on the light detector 300, and thereby the objective lens 160 is moved by the two-dimensional adjuster 150 for focusing and tracking.

When the second optical disc is reproduced, the light flux emitted from the second semiconductor laser 112 is transmitted by the hologram phase 230 and the collimator lens 130 to become mostly collimated light, which is condensed on the information recording surface 220 by the objective lens 160 via the transparent substrate 210 of the second optical disc 200.

Focus detection and tracking detection are performed by detecting a change in the amount of light due to a change in the shape and position of the light spot on the light detector 302, and thereby the objective lens 160 is moved by the two-dimensional adjuster 150 for focusing and tracking.

In the optical head device of fig. 107, the first semiconductor laser 111, the second semiconductor laser 112, the first photodetector 301, the second photodetector 302, and the hologram 230 are integrated into a laser/detector combining unit 430.

When the first optical disc is reproduced, the light flux emitted from the first semiconductor laser 111 is transmitted through the hologram 230 and the collimator lens 130 on the disc side to become a collimated light flux, which is further narrowed by the aperture 170, and is condensed by the objective lens 160 on the information recording medium 220 through the transparent substrate 210 of the first optical disc 200.

This light flux modulated by the information bits and reflected on the information recording surface 220 is re-transmitted by the collimator lens 130 via the objective lens 160 and the aperture 170 and diffracted by the hologram 230 located on the side of the optical disk, thereby entering the photodetector 301 corresponding to the first light source, where the signal output therefrom is used to obtain a signal for reading out the information recorded on the second optical disk 200.

The focus detection and the tracking detection are performed by detecting a change in the amount of light due to a change in the shape and position of the light spot on the light detector 300, and thus the objective lens 160 is moved by the two-dimensional adjuster 150 for focusing and tracking.

When reproducing the second optical disc, the light flux emitted from the second semiconductor laser 112 is diffracted by the surface of the hologram 230 on the semiconductor laser side and passes through the collimator 130 to become most of the collimated light flux. The surface of the hologram 232 on the semiconductor laser device side has such a function as a light combining device. The light flux is converged on the information recording surface 220 through the aperture 170, the objective lens 160, and the transparent substrate of the second optical disc 200.

This light flux modulated by the information bits and reflected by the information recording surface 220 is transmitted by the collimator lens 130 via the objective lens 160 and the aperture 170, and then diffracted by the disc-side surface of the hologram 230 to enter the light detector 302 corresponding to the second light source, where a signal for reading out the information recorded on the first optical disc 200 is obtained using the signal output therefrom.

The seventh pickup shown in fig. 108 has a structure suitable for an optical system for recording and reproduction, and one case of reproduction will be explained below.

When the first optical disc is reproduced, a light beam is emitted from the first semiconductor laser 111, the emitted light beam is transmitted through the coupling lens 60 that makes the divergence of the beam intensity of the divergent light source small, the beam splitter 190 representing the light combining means, and the beam splitter 120, and is further transmitted through the collimator lenses 130 and the 1/4 wavelength plate 140 to become circularly polarized collimated light. It is then further reduced in size by the aperture 170 and converged on the information recording surface 220 by the objective lens 160 via the transparent substrate 210 of the first optical disc 200.

This light flux modulated by the information bits and reflected by the information recording surface 220 is entered into the beam splitter 120 via the objective lens 160 and the aperture 170 by the 1/4 wavelength plate 140 and the collimator lens 130, where it is reflected and astigmatic by the cylindrical lens 180. Then, the light flux enters the photodetector 301 through the concave lens 50, where a signal for reading out information recorded on the first optical disc 200 is obtained using a signal output therefrom.

A change in the amount of light due to a change in the shape and position of the light spot on the photodetector 301 is detected to perform focus detection and tracking detection. Based on this detection, the two-dimensional actuator 150 moves the objective lens 160 so that the light flux from the first semiconductor laser 111 can form an image on the recording surface 220 of the first optical disc 200, and moves the objective lens 160 so that the light flux from the semiconductor laser 111 can form an image on a prescribed track.

In the second semiconductor laser 112 for reproducing the second optical disc, the optical detector 302 and the hologram 230 are integrated in the laser/detector combining unit 400.

This light flux modulated by the information bits and reflected at the information recording surface 220 is re-order-transmitted by the 1/4 wavelength plate 140, the collimator lens 130, and the beam splitter 120 via the objective lens 160 and the aperture 170, and then reflected in the beam splitter 190 and diffracted by the hologram 230 to enter the optical detector 302 where a signal for reading out the information recorded on the second optical disc 200 is obtained using the signal output therefrom.

Focus detection and tracking detection are performed by detecting a change in the amount of light due to a change in the shape and position of the light spot on the light detector 302, and the objective lens 160 is moved by the two-dimensional adjuster 150 for focusing and tracking.

Here, a case of recording and reproducing light for the optical disk of the third Super RENS system, which is substantially the same as the first optical disk in terms of the transparent substrate thickness t1 and the numerical aperture NA required for the objective lens on the side of the optical information recording medium, which is required to be recorded and reproduced with the first light source having the wavelength λ 1, will be explained.

The disc of the third Super RENS system is now being intensively studied, and a structural example thereof is shown in fig. 109. Its recording and reproduction are based on near-field optics, and the reproduced signal includes a system for reflecting light and a system using transmitted light, and the structure of the present example shows a system for obtaining a reproduced signal by using transmitted light.

When recording and reproducing the third disc of the Super RENS system, the first semiconductor laser 111 emits a light beam, which is transmitted through the coupling lens 60 that makes the beam divergence of the divergent light source small, the beam splitter 190 representing the light combining means, and the beam splitter 120, and is further transmitted through the collimator lenses 130 and the 1/4 wavelength plate 140 to become collimated light. Then it is further reduced in aperture by the aperture 170 and condensed on the nonlinear optical film 250 by the objective lens 160 via the transparent substrate 210 of the first optical disc 200 and the first protective film 240. On the nonlinear optical film 250, small openings are formed, and energy is transmitted to the information recording surface 220 on the information recording layer through the second protective film 260. Then, the light beam modulated by the information bits and transmitted through the information recording surface 220 is transmitted through the protective film 270, and is condensed by the condensing lens 90 located on the opposite side of the objective lens to reach the photodetector 305, where a read signal recorded on the third optical disc 200 is obtained from a signal output from the photodetector.

On the other hand, the light flux reflected by the nonlinear optical thin film 250 is transmitted to the beam splitter 120 via the objective lens 160 and the aperture 170 by the 1/4 wavelength plate 140 and the collimator lens 130, where the light flux is reflected and subjected to astigmatism by the cylindrical lens 180 to enter the photodetector 301 via the concave lens 50. The focus detection and the tracking detection are performed by detecting a change in the amount of light caused by the composition and the change in position of the light spot on the photodetector 301. Based on this detection, the two-dimensional adjuster 150 moves the objective lens 160 so that the light flux emitted from the first semiconductor laser 111 can form an image on the nonlinear optical thin film 250 of the first optical disc, and moves the objective lens 160 so that the light flux emitted from the first semiconductor laser 111 can form an image on a prescribed track.

When the special objective lens is designed so that an aberration-free collimated light flux can enter from the first light source and form an aberration-free light spot via the DVD transparent substrate, and is used as the objective lens of the aforementioned optical head device, and when aberration-free collimated light enters the objective lens from the second light source and forms one light spot via the CD transparent substrate, spherical aberration caused by:

(1) the refractive index of the objective lens depending on the wavelength,

(2) A difference in thickness between transparent substrates of the information recording medium, an

(3) The refractive index of the transparent substrate depends on the wavelength, and most of the spherical aberration is caused by the above item (2), which has been mentioned above.

Under the condition of the numerical aperture NA2 necessary for CD recording and reproduction, which is determined by the above-mentioned factor of (2)The resulting spherical aberration is related to | t1-t2| and (NA2)⁴Is in direct proportion. Fig. 110 shows the relationship between the imaging magnification M2 and the wavefront aberration for a special objective lens designed to be aberration-free through a DVD transparent substrate when a collimated light flux having a wavelength λ 1 ═ 650nm enters the objective lens, with the proviso that: the thickness of the transparent substrate thereof was the same as that of CD, the wavelength λ 2 was 780nm, and the numerical aperture of the light flux emitted from the objective lens was 0.45. When the imaging magnification M2 is 0, the collimated light flux enters the objective lens as in the case of a DVD.

In the case where the M2 is 0, a spherical aberration of about 0.13 λ rms is generated, which is larger than 0.07 λ rms which is a Marechal limit of diffraction-limited power. Therefore, it is necessary to set spherical aberration by some means for DVD and CD so that wavefront aberration is not more than the Marechal limit.

When the imaging magnification of the objective lens is negative, negative spherical aberration is generated in the objective lens, and the minimum value is taken within the Marechal limit in the case of M ≈ -0.06. As described above, the amount of spherical aberration that needs to be corrected varies depending on the imaging magnification, and in the illustrated example, it is not necessary to correct spherical aberration with another device in the case of M ≈ -0.06. In addition, when the NA required for CD-R information recording is 0.5, the spherical aberration that needs to be corrected becomes larger.

Next, a preferred collimator adjustment collimating device in each of the above-described optical head devices will be explained. For the sake of simplicity of explanation, an optical head device using a light converging optical system composed of one collimator lens and one objective lens will be considered. With respect to the distance between the collimator and the light source, when the light source is arranged at the collimator focal point on its optical axis, a desired collimated light can be emitted from the collimator. Due to manufacturing discreteness of the back focus of the collimator lens, the distance between the mounting position and the light emitting point of the semiconductor laser and the optical head device housing is kept small, and therefore it is possible to obtain one collimated beam with no influence on the accuracy of practical use even without adjusting the distance between the semiconductor laser and the collimator.

When two types of optical information recording media having transparent substrates of different thicknesses are recorded and reproduced using two light sources having different wavelengths, and when an objective lens having a diffraction pattern is used and non-zero same-order diffracted light is used for each light source, fluctuation of spherical aberration caused by a change in the oscillation wavelength of the laser becomes large as compared with a conventional biaspheric objective lens. In fact, in the case of the objective lens of example 6, when the wavelength variation is ± 10nm, the wavefront aberration of 0.001 λ rms at a wavelength of 650nm becomes worse to 0.03 λ rms. In this case, spherical aberration is generated. In the semiconductor laser, there is an individual difference in oscillation wavelength, and when the semiconductor laser having a large individual difference is used in the optical head device, the standard of spherical aberration of the objective lens having the diffraction pattern becomes strict. This is a problem.

In an objective lens used in an optical head device, negative 3 rd order spherical aberration is increased when an incident light flux changes from collimated light to divergent light, and positive 3 rd order spherical aberration is increased when a light beam changes from collimated light to convergent light, and therefore, the 3 rd order spherical aberration can be controlled by changing the divergence of the incident light flux reaching the objective lens. In the objective lens of example 6, the main component of spherical aberration caused by the individual difference in the oscillation wavelength of the semiconductor laser is 3 rd order spherical aberration, and therefore, the 3 rd order spherical aberration of the total light converging optical system can be changed to a design value by changing the divergence of the incident light flux reaching the objective lens.

Incidentally, when there is one coupling lens such as a collimator in the beam converging optical system, the 3 rd order spherical aberration of the objective lens can be controlled by moving the coupling lens in the optical axis direction. In addition, when there is one coupling lens such as a collimator, the same object as described above can be obtained by moving the semiconductor laser in the optical axis direction. Even when there is one coupling lens such as a collimator, the semiconductor laser can be moved in the optical axis direction of course.

Example 19

As a specific example of the objective lens related to embodiment 8, example 19 of the spherical aberration corrected lens in fig. 111, table 20, and table 21 is shown below.

In table 20, ri denotes a radius of curvature of the refractive surface, each di and di 'denotes a distance between the surfaces, and each ni and ni' denotes a refractive index at a dominant wavelength. In addition, expressions for constituting the faces are shown below.

In the expression, X represents an axis in the optical axis direction, h represents an axis perpendicular to the optical axis, the beam advancing direction is positive, r represents a paraxial radius of curvature, κ represents a conic constant, Aj represents an aspherical coefficient, and Pj (Pj ≧ 3) represents an aspherical power number.

The diffraction surface shown in expression 1 is a function of the optical path difference. The unit is mm.

Watch 20

Wavelength of light		635nm		780nm
Wavelength of light		635nm		780nm		Focal length		3.370		3.397
Pore diameter		Φ4.04mm				Focal length		3.370		3.397
Pore diameter		Φ4.04mm				Lateral magnification of objective lens		0
Surface number	ri	di	di’	ni	ni’	Lateral magnification of objective lens		0
Surface number	ri	di	di’	ni	ni’	1	∞
2	2.131	2.6		1.5300	1.5255	1	∞
2	2.131	2.6		1.5300	1.5255	3	-6.373	1.5657	1.2052
4	∞	0.6	1.2	1.5787	1.5709	3	-6.373	1.5657	1.2052
4	∞	0.6	1.2	1.5787	1.5709	5	∞

di and ni both indicate values for the first optical information recording medium (t1 ═ 0.6 mm).

Both di 'and ni' denote values for the second optical information recording medium (t2 ═ 1.2 mm).

TABLE 21

Second surface	First beam splitting plane (aspheric surface coefficient) (diffraction plane coefficient)	0≤H≤1.6984κ＝-3.6612×10^-2A1＝-3.2000×10^-3 P1＝4.0A2＝-9.5500×10^-4 P2＝6.0A3＝9.4024×10^-5 P3＝8.0A4＝-2.8750×10^-5 P4＝10.0
			B2＝0B4＝-8.3027×10^-4

	B6＝-1.6462×10^-4B8＝1.3105×10^-5
	B6＝-1.6462×10^-4B8＝1.3105×10^-5	Second beam splitting surface (aspheric coefficient)	1.6984≤Hκ＝-9.8006×10^-1A1＝6.0790×10^-3 P1＝4.0A2＝2.8149×10^-4 P2＝6.0A3＝6.6735×10^-6 P3＝8.0A4＝-2.8790×10^-6 P4＝10.0
Third side	Coefficient of aspheric surface	Second beam splitting surface (aspheric coefficient)		κ＝-2.4934×10A1＝9.6641×10^-3 P1＝4.0A2＝-3.7568×10^-3 P2＝6.0A3＝7.9367×10^-4 P3＝8.0A4＝-7.3523×10^-5 P4＝10.0

A lens cross-sectional view in the above example is shown in fig. 111, and a spherical aberration diagram thereof is shown in fig. 112. In fig. 111, a portion S2d including the optical axis of the second face S2 has a diffraction pattern, and the outer portion S2r thereof is one aspherical refractive surface. Fig. 112(a) shows a spherical aberration diagram at a wavelength of 635nm and at the time of the first optical information medium (t1 ═ 0.6nm), which is sufficiently corrected. Fig. 112(b) shows a spherical aberration diagram at a wavelength of 780nm and a second optical information medium (t2 ═ 1.2nm), in which the spherical aberration of the light flux passing through the first beam splitting surface S2d is corrected by the diffraction effect, while the light flux passing through the second beam splitting surface S2r becomes dispersed light and has the same effect as that passing through the aperture.

The lens in the above example is one objective with NAH 2-0.5 and NAL 2-0. The diffraction pattern portion of the objective lens becomes a pattern on an annular band whose center is the optical axis and whose number of steps is about 13. The boundary between the circumferential portion of the diffraction pattern, which is farthest from the optical axis, and the refractive surface has a step of about 21 μm.

In the case where NAH2 is 0.45, the number of steps of the diffraction pattern is about 9, and the amount of steps is about 13 μm. The number of steps and the amount of steps of the diffraction pattern are roughly proportional to the fourth power of NAH 2.

As in the above example, in the case where NAL2 is 0, the increase in the number of steps of the diffraction pattern is proportional to the spherical aberration to be corrected.

In the objective lens of the present invention, satisfactory effects can be obtained even in the case where the diffraction pattern depth in the optical axis direction is 2 μm or less. However, when the number of steps of the diffraction pattern is large, it is difficult to handle the metal mold and the molding. Therefore, it is desirable that the number of steps is as small as possible.

This can be achieved in the following way.

(1) The imaging magnification of the CD is set slightly smaller than that for the DVD, and the amount of spherical aberration to be corrected is set smaller in advance. Preferably, mCD (magnification for recording and reproduction of CD) -mDVD (magnification for recording and reproduction of DVD) is in the range of-1/15-0.

(2) The diffraction pattern is not provided in a portion where the depth is large and the numerical aperture is small.

For example, if the imaging magnification of the DVD is set to 0 and the imaging magnification of the CD is set to-0.03, the spherical aberration to be corrected becomes half, even when NAH2 is set to 0.5 so as to be suitable for CD-R, the number of steps is about 7 and the amount of one step is about 11 μm.

When the steps are small, the form of the step S2S may also be such that: smoothly transitions from the diffraction pattern portion S2d to the refractive surface portion S2 r.

When the imaging magnification for DVD and CD is 0, if NAL2 is set to 0.36, the remaining spherical aberration component WSA (NAL2) having a numerical aperture not exceeding the wavefront aberration of the light flux of NAL2 is about 0.053 λ rms. By providing the optimum diffraction pattern, the RMS of the wavefront aberration up to NAH2 can be made smaller while keeping the wavefront aberration of the DVD at 0.

The remaining spherical aberration component WSA of the wavefront aberration whose numerical aperture does not exceed the luminous flux of NAH2 can be approximated by the following expression (NAH 2):

WSA (NAH @) — (NAL2/NAH2)2 × WSA (NAL2), so the above value is 0.034 λ rms for NAH2 ═ 0.45, and 0.027 λ rms for NAH2 ═ 0.5, which is sufficiently smaller than the Marechal limit value.

In this case, for apertures of NAL2 or smaller, additional spherical aberration is generated. Therefore, the spherical aberration from NAL2 to NAH2 does not become 0, but it can be set to coincide with the best focus of light flux of NAL2 or less. Since this best focus position is at a position beyond the paraxial focus, the spherical aberration corrected by the diffraction pattern can be small. In addition, for light fluxes of NAL2 or less, this diffraction pattern is not required. Due to these two effects, the number of steps of the diffraction pattern in the case of NAH2 ═ 0.5 may be about 6, and the number of steps of the diffraction pattern in the case of NAH2 ═ 0.45 may be about 4.

It is of course possible to set the diffraction pattern smaller by setting the imaging magnification of the CD smaller than that of the DVD, and the minimum value of these two steps can make the interchange reproduction of the DVD and the CD possible.

Incidentally, it is proposed to use a high-density optical information recording medium having a transparent substrate thickness of 0.1 mm. For recording and reproduction of such a recording medium, a blue semiconductor laser, a two-part objective lens, and NA1 of 0.85 can be used. In addition, the CD-RW uses a light source such that the thickness of the transparent substrate is 1.2mm and the wavelength is 780, and NA2 is set to 0.55. In such an interactive optical system, since NA2 is large and t1 to t2 are also large, the correction amount of spherical aberration becomes 2.7 times larger than that of DVD and CD-R (NAH2 is 0.5). Therefore, the number of steps of the diffraction pattern is about 35.

To further correct for paraxial chromatic aberration, the number of steps of the diffraction pattern may be increased. Hundreds of steps are required to correct paraxial chromatic aberration including up to NA 1. In this case, it is also possible to provide a plurality of light surfaces with a diffraction pattern.

If desired, a refractive surface may be provided on a portion of the range from NAL2 to NAH 2.

In addition, in the case where t1 > t2, since the signs of the generated spherical aberration are opposite, a-1 order beam is used.

Similarly, even in the case of DVD and CD, the imaging magnification of the objective lens for CD is smaller than that for DVD, and when spherical aberration is maintained, the-1 order beam is also used.

Incidentally, for DVDs and CDs, which represent the current major consideration, an example is shown, which is realized by using two lasers having different recording wavelengths with a single objective lens. As described previously, when it is assumed that λ 1 represents the wavelength of the first light source and λ 2(λ 2 > λ 1) represents the wavelength of the second light source, the first diffraction pattern is introduced in which +1 order diffracted light is used in the case of t1 < t2 and-1 order diffracted light is used in the case of t1 > t2, and the former is applicable to DVDs (using the first light source) and CDs (using the second light source).

Various light sources having different wavelengths have been used so far, such as a blue semiconductor laser and an SHG laser, and it is estimated that a large number of new optical information recording media will further appear on the market. In this case, although the necessary spot size can be determined from the recording density of the optical information recording medium, NA necessary for recording or recording/reproducing is changed according to the wavelength of the light source used. Therefore, for two optical information recording media, the transparent substrate thickness and the required NA of each optical information recording medium are classified into the following four cases.

(1)t1＜t2，NA1＞NA2

(2)t1＜t2，NA1＜NA2

(3)t1＞t2，NA1＞NA2

(4)t1＞t2，NA1＜NA2

In the above explanation, various items have been described in particular detail, such as: the diffraction order of the first diffraction pattern used in the above case (1) for each light source; ranges (NAH1, NAL1, NAH2, and NAL 2); type and light source NA range, in which the diffraction pattern part and the transparent part are required to be converged on the same position; setting an NA range of spherical aberration for each light source; wherein the wavefront aberration for each light source is required to be in the NA range of 0.07 λ rms or less; a necessity that the diffraction order of the second diffraction pattern and the first diffraction pattern for each light source converge at the same position; and the condition of limiting the light flux from the light source in case an aperture limitation is introduced. Detailed explanations for the cases (2), (3), and (4) are omitted because they can be easily implemented from the detailed description for (1).

With regard to the manufacture of the lens, it is also possible to integrally mold a plastic material or a glass material by using a metal mold in which a diffraction pattern is engraved, or to form a smooth surface including the diffraction pattern of the present invention on a base material of glass or plastic by using a UV plasticized resin. The material can be further plated or directly processed for manufacturing.

As described above, it is also possible to arrange that the optical surface having the effect of the present invention is provided on an optical element separate from the objective lens, and is provided on the side of the objective lens close to the light source or on the side close to the optical recording medium. It is of course also possible to provide it on one optical surface of a collimator lens or a light combining means through which the light flux from the first light source and the light flux from the second light source pass. However, the amount of tracking is limited because the optical axis of the diffraction pattern and the optical axis of the objective lens move relatively when the objective lens is moved to track.

Although the diffraction pattern is provided in the form of concentric circles concentric with the optical axis for convenience of explanation, the present invention is not limited thereto.

Although the objective lens specifically shown in examples 1 to 19 is composed of a single objective lens by way of example, the objective lens may be composed of a plurality of objective lenses, and the present invention also includes the case where: wherein at least one surface of a number of objective lenses has a diffraction pattern according to the invention.

In the present invention, selectively generating diffracted light having a specific order for a light beam having a predetermined wavelength means that the diffraction efficiency of diffracted light having a specific order is higher than the diffraction efficiency of each diffracted light having an order other than the specific order, which has been explained. Preferably, the diffraction efficiency of the diffraction ray having a specific order is higher than that of each of the diffraction rays having two wavelengths different from each other by 10% or more, more preferably 30% or more, and the diffraction efficiency of the diffraction ray having a specific order is preferably 50% or more, and preferably 70% or more from the viewpoint of practical use, so that the loss of the light amount can be reduced.

With regard to the diffractive surface of the present invention, as shown in the lens specific examples and in the above-described embodiments, when the selectively generated diffracted light rays have at least two mutually different wavelengths and are focused separately, it is preferable that the presence of the diffractive surface improves the spherical aberration compared to the absence of the diffractive surface, which is the case: a surface is assumed that covers the diffractive surface topography.

Further, in the present invention, from the viewpoint of obtaining a desired light spot effective in practical use, it is preferable that the wavefront aberration selectively generating diffracted light having a specific order is 0.07 λ rms for each of at least two light rays (wavelength λ) having wavelengths different from each other.

As described above, the present invention makes it possible to obtain an optical system in which spherical aberration and axial chromatic aberration can be corrected for light rays having at least two wavelengths different from each other, with an optical head device, a recording and reproducing device, a lens, an optical element, a diffractive optical system for an optical disc, a recording and/or reproducing device for sound and/or images, and an objective lens, with a simple structure using at least one optical element having a diffractive surface. The present invention also enables the optical system to be small in size, light in weight, and low in cost. When the optical element has a diffraction surface that can maximize the diffraction efficiency of the diffraction rays having the same order as for the rays having at least two wavelengths different from each other, it can reduce the loss of the light amount as compared with the case where the diffraction efficiency of the diffraction rays having the diffraction surfaces of different orders is maximized.

In particular, with the invention described in item 72-88, a diffractive optical system can be obtained by providing a diffractive lens on a diffractive surface, wherein the optical system for recording and reproducing uses an optical system having two light sources of wavelengths different from each other, the loss of the amount of light for each light source wavelength is small, and the aberration can be corrected to almost the diffraction limit.

With the invention described in items 89-98 in particular, recording of information and/or reproduction of information can be performed for different optical discs with one objective lens, the optical head device can be made thin for three light sources each having a different wavelength, and the problem of high cost can be solved, as described above.

In particular, with the invention described in items 99 to 112, it is possible to provide an optical head device and an objective lens in which, in an optical head device having three light sources each with a different wavelength, spherical aberration caused by a difference in thickness of a transparent substrate, chromatic aberration of spherical aberration caused by a difference in wavelength, and axial chromatic aberration can be corrected by appropriately designing aspherical coefficients and coefficients of a phase difference function.

In particular, with the invention described in item 113-181, it is possible to provide a spherical aberration correcting objective lens and an optical head device for recording and reproducing optical information recording media in which recording and reproducing processes can be performed by light fluxes having different wavelengths and by a single light condensing optical system, and recording and reproducing operations can be performed by providing many beam splitting surfaces on the objective lens and thus by arranging a diffraction surface on the first beam splitting surface for optical information recording media having transparent substrates of different thicknesses.

Further, the objective lens for an optical head device is composed of a plurality of annular zones divided in the form of concentric circles, and aberration correction is performed for each of the annular zones up to almost the diffraction limit for a plurality of light sources each having a different wavelength and for a transparent substrate each having a different thickness, and therefore, the dispersed light entering the photodetector is reduced, thereby making the manufacture of the objective lens easy. Variations of the disclosed embodiments may be made by those of ordinary skill in the art without departing from the spirit and scope of the present invention. "

Claims

1. An optical head device for reproducing information from an optical information recording medium or for recording information onto an optical information recording medium, comprising:

a first light source for emitting a first luminous flux having a first wavelength for information recording and/or reproduction to a second optical information recording medium having a transparent substrate with a thickness t 1;

a second light source for emitting a second luminous flux having a second wavelength, which is longer than the first wavelength, for information recording and/or reproduction of a first optical information recording medium having a transparent substrate with a thickness t 1;

a third light source for emitting a third luminous flux having a third wavelength, the third wavelength being greater than the second wavelength, for recording and/or reproducing information to/from a third optical information recording medium having a transparent substrate with a thickness t2, t2 being greater than t 1;

an objective lens for converging a first light flux emitted from a first light source onto an information recording surface of a second optical information recording medium when information is recorded and/or reproduced on the second optical information recording medium, for converging a second light flux emitted from a second light source onto the information recording surface of the first optical information recording medium when information is recorded and/or reproduced on the first optical information recording medium, and for converging a third light flux emitted from a third light source onto the information recording surface of a third optical information recording medium when information is recorded and/or reproduced on the third optical information recording medium; and

A light detector.

2. The optical pickup device according to claim 1, wherein the first light flux having the first wavelength is a blue laser beam.

3. The optical pickup apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the second optical information recording medium is a next-generation high-density optical disc for recording and/or reproducing information by a blue laser beam.

4. The optical head device according to claim 1, wherein if the image side numerical aperture of the objective lens for recording and/or reproducing information on/from the first optical information recording medium is NA2, the image side numerical aperture for recording and/or reproducing information on/from the second optical information recording medium is NA1, and the image side numerical aperture for recording and/or reproducing information on/from the third optical information recording medium is NA3, NA1 plus NA2 is greater than NA 3.

5. Optical head device according to claim 4, characterized in that NA1 is equal to NA 2.

6. The optical head device according to claim 4, wherein when information is recorded and/or reproduced on the third optical information recording medium, the spherical aberration on the third optical information recording medium is drastically increased by a luminous flux passing through a region having a numerical aperture larger than NA 3.

7. The optical head device according to claim 1, wherein the objective lens includes an annular diffraction surface.

8. The optical pickup device according to claim 1, wherein the objective lens includes an aspherical refractive surface and an annular diffractive surface.

9. The optical pickup device according to claim 8, wherein spherical aberration caused by a difference in wavelength between the first, second and third luminous fluxes and spherical aberration caused by a difference in thickness of the transparent substrate between the first, second and third optical information recording media are corrected in designing the aspherical refractive surface and the annular diffraction surface.

10. The optical head device according to claim 7, wherein the annular diffraction surface is designed using a phase difference function in which a coefficient of a second power term is non-zero and a coefficient of a term other than the second power term is non-zero.

11. The optical pickup device according to claim 1, wherein spherical aberration caused by the difference in wavelength among the first, second and third luminous fluxes is corrected by a combination of refractive power and diffractive power of the objective lens.

12. The optical pickup device according to claim 10, wherein the objective lens is a single lens.